
Qass. 
Book. 



HISTORY 



TOWN OF GORHAM, 



m: A. I NE 



PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TOWN, 



/ 

BY JOSIAH PIERCE 




FOSTER & GUSHING, AND BAILEY & NOYES. 
Printed by Foster & Gushing, over Casco Bank. 

1862. 



r ? 



v^v>n 



PREFACE. 



A praiseworthy desire has of hite been manifested in 
many towns in New England, to gather up the trustworthy 
documents relating to the early settlement and progress of 
our plantations, and to rescue from the oblivion to which 
they are rapidly hastening, the records of the enterprise, 
courage, and sufterings, of our early ancestors. 

Such local statistics must be interesting to the citizens of 
those places to which they relate, and valuable to historians 
of our country, as furnishing reliable data to aid them in the 
composition of their works. 

I have devoted some time in investigating the early settle- 
ment of the town of Gorham, and tracing its growth, till it 
became, what it now is, one of the most populous, wealthy, 
and important inland towns in Maine. 

I have thought a historical memoir of the place would be 
acceptable to its present inhabitants, and not wholly unin- 
teresting to the people of our State generally. 

With these views, I have compiled the following pages, 
and now commit them to the public eye. 

In the preparation of this work, I have been much as- 
sisted In gathering materials, by several gentlemen. M. G. 
Hayden, Esq., Town Clerk, has at all times given me a free 



IV. PREFACE. 

use of all the Town Kecorcls in his possession. I have 
also received valuable aid from Hon. Frederic Robie. Es- 
pecially am I indebted to Col. Hugh D. McLellan, -vvho has 
kindly furnished me with many historical facts and tradi- 
tions, and loaned rae his numerous and valuable family 
manuscripts and traditional papers, from which I have gath- 
ered many interesting facts. 

J. PIERCE. 
GoRHAM, Januarv, 1862. 



G O R H A M. 



CHAPTEE I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

Within a few years a general wish has prevailed, to 
gather up and preserve the facts relating to the settlement 
and early progress of our town. The movement is credita- 
ble to our citizens, and we regret that this interest had not 
been earlier excited, while fuller records, and the actors 
themselves in these proceedings were accessible. 

In many of our towns all the early settlers have passe<l 
away. The records of proprietors and plantations, in many 
instances, been lost or destroyed. We can now only make 
the best use we can of the materials Avithin our reach, — 
family records, grave-stone inscriptions, and floating and 
oftentimes unreliable traditions. 

The sea coast and islands of Maine had been discovered 
more than a hundred years by Sebastian Cabot, before any 
settlement was made by Europeans. After some islands 
and a fcAV places on the main land by the sea side, had been 
occupied by Englishmen, another century went by before 
permanent settlements were effected in the interior. There 
were several causes for this ; the principal of which Avere, 
the greater facility of obtaining the necessaries of living 



6 IIISTOKY OF GUliiIA3[. 

near the ocean, and the greater security from the hostile 
attacks of the Indians and Canadian French. Thus Fal- 
mouth (now Portland), and Scarborough, Avere settled a 
full hundred years before the adjoining interior town of 
Gorham. Falmouth was occupied by Englishmen in lGo2, 
and Scarborough as early as 1633. The first settler moved 
into Gorham in 1736. 

The town of Gorham embraces an area of somewhat more 
than six miles square. Its contents, as Is the case of most 
of the early located towns in the State, exceeds the granted 
quantity. The surveyors employed, a century ago, made 
liberal allowances for waste land in the shape of ponds, bogs 
and mountains. An allowance of one rod in thirty for swag 
of chain, Avas also a general practice of surveyors, in laying 
out new townships, between sixty and one hundred years 
ago ; and such allowances were sanctioned by government 
at that period. Hence most of the towns in Maine, that 
were located during the last century, are found, on a strict 
measurement, to contain a larger surface, than are indicated 
by their grants or charters. 

The territory of the town of Gorham is circumscribed by 
an irregular figure of very unequal sides ; its longest side 
is that on Presumscot river ; its shortest, the dividing line 
between Gorham and "Westbrook. The former being about 
eight, the latter three miles in length. It is bounded 
easterly by Presumscot river which divides it from the town 
of Windham ; south-easterly by Westbrook ; southerly by 
vScarborough ; south-westerly and westerly by Buxton ; and 
northerly liy Standish. 

The surface of the town is what is called a rollino- coun- 
try. In the northerly part is a plain of considerable extent ; 
but much the larger part of Gorham is hilly. The hills are 
uniformly of gentle and even ascent, being nowhere preci- 
[»itous, or too steep lor cultivation. Large and windinu" 



IXTKODI'CTOKY. 7 

valleys are spread out between the swells of land, and tlie 
whole is bountifully watered by springs and streams ; in a 
few places the soil is sandy, but a clayey loam is the j)re- 
vailinfT; soil. Fort Ilill is the hifjhest eminence, and from its 
summit can be seen most of the town and a large extent of 
the surrounding country, and waters of the ocean ; its sides 
are long slopes, easily ascended and covered Avith excellent 
farms. The town is not rocky ; the northerly part contains 
some granite, and limestone is found in some places. The 
prevailing stone is argillaceous slate, laying in ledges. It is 
believed that there is not so much as two acres of surface 
in any one place unfit for cultivation. It is, without doubt, 
one of the best agricultural townships in Maine. 

Presumscot river washes its whole eastern boundary, and 
affords, by its numerous falls, many eligible water privileges 
for manufacturing purposes. 

Stroudwater river traverses the southern section of the 
town ; and Little river, rising in Buxton, within two miles 
of the Saco, enters Gorham on its western boundary ; and, 
after flowing in a very winding channel, affording many 
mill sites, and forming and watering many fertile intervales, 
it falls into the Presumscot river on the eastern side of the 
town. 

Formerly there was a fine growth of large pine trees in 
the township, interspersed with ash, birch, beech, maple, 
oak, hemlock, fir, spruce, elm and walnut trees ; the more 
valuable part of the pine has long since been cut and carried 
away. This town seems to have been first resorted to by 
white men for lumbering purposes ; they came first for 
masts, of which the noble pines that were numerous here 
afforded a large supply. After saw mills were erected on 
Presumscot and Saccarappa falls, logs for boards, which 
were easily floated down Presumscot river, Avere in de- 
mand. 



8 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 

Gorham, tliough having within its Hmits places bearing 
Indian names, was never, as far as is known, the residence 
of any particular tribe of the natives. It was sometimes 
occupied for awhile as the camping ground of roving parties 
of Indians, from the Ossipee, Pequawkct, Androscoggin, 
and Sokokis or Saco tribes. These with the St. Francois 
Indians of Canada, with whom the remnant of the Pequaw- 
kets united after their signal defeat by Lovell, at Fryeburg, 
in 1725, would make this town their summer residence, and 
planted large fields of corn in some localities, and it was 
their great thoroughfare from Scbago Lake to Saco and 
Scarborouo;h. There are no traditions of Indian grants or 
Indian claims of land in Gorham. 

Several families from Canada resided here for some years 
for the sake of easy access to the trading houses of the 
English on the coast, where they could barter their furs, 
baskets and various trinkets, for such articles as they most 
needed. 

The early settlers of Gorham were greatly harrassed for 
several years by the Canada Indians. Crops were destroy- 
ed, cattle killed, a few white persons killed, and a few 
carried away captive to Canada. These annoyances contin- 
ued till the French power passed away by the conquest of 
Quebec by Wolfe in 1769. That victory put an end to the 
Indian depredations in this part of Maine. 

The wars between France and England always drew into 
the conflict the colonies of the two nations in North Amer- 
ica. Hence the inhabitants of New-England had to be in a 
state of warlike preparation at all times. For the first 
century after the settlement of Massachusetts, her men 
were frequently engaged in military expeditions ; sometimes 
against the French — sometimes against the Indians — fre- 
quently against both combined. The colonies were poor, 
and the Legislatures of the same had slender means of 



INTRODUCTORY. 9 

paying the expenses of the military or remunerating the 
soldiers except by grants of wild lands. Most of the Pro- 
vincial grants were therefore made for military services. 
The township of Gorham was granted for such services. 
Seven townships, of which this town was one, were granted 
to the officers and soldiers, or their representatives, who 
served in what was called King Philip's war, or the Narra- 
gansett fight. The grant was made by the General Court 
of INIassachusetts ; first of two townships in 1728, and five 
more in 1732. The number of grantees was 840. 



10 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE GEANTS. 

BY THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE MASSACHU- 
SETTS BAY, IN NEW ENGLAND. 

At a General Court for Elections held at Boston, 21th 
of May, 1685. 

In answer to the petition of William Bassett, John Lin- 
sey, Robert Porter, Sen'r, and twenty-two more inhabitants 
of Lyn, Jeremiah Swain, Samuel Damon, Samuel Lamb- 
son, William Robbins, James Pyke, John and James Nich- 
ols of Reading, Wm. Raymond, and five more of Beverly, 
and Samuel Lincoln, and three more of Hingham, as on the 
petition on file. The Court judgeth it meet to grant the pe- 
titioners a tract of land in Nipmug country of eight miles 
square for their encouragement, and others that were ser- 
viceable to the country in the late Indian War, to a compe- 
tent number who shall see meet to join themselves to them, 
in order to the making of a Plantation or Township, provi- 
ded it be laid out as not to interfere with any former 
grants, and that an Orthodox Minister, on their settlement 
of thirty families, be settled within the space of four years 
next coming. 

A true copy of the original Records of the General 
Court. 

Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS, 

Secretary of the Commonwealth. 



THE GRANTS. 11 

Thursday, December 14, 1727. 
On the petition of Samuel Chandler, Jacoh Wright, cfic, 
in hehalf of themselves and others foraying, as entered 
July 1, 1727. 

In the House of Representatives. Resolved, That 
Major Thomas Tilestone, Capt. John Aklen, Mr. Edward 
Shove, Mr. Nathaniel Healy, of Newton, Mr. Samuel Chan- 
dler, of Concord, John Wainwrlght and Ezra Bourne, 
Esqs., (any four of Avhom to be a Quorum) be a Committee 
fully authorized and empowered to survey and lay out two 
tracts of Lands for townships, of the contents of six miles 
square, of the unappropriated Lands of this Province, and 
that the said lands be granted and disposed of to the per- 
sons, whether officers or soldiers, belonging to this Province, 
who were in the service of their country in the said Narra- 
gansett War, or to their lawful representatives, as a reward 
for their public services, and in full satisfaction of the grant 
formerly made them by the Great and General Court, and 
forasmuch as it is the full intent and purpose of this Court, 
that every officer and soldier who served in said War, 
should have a compensation made them over and above 
what wages and gratuities any of them have already re- 
ceived ; that the said Committee give public notice in the 
news-letters or otherwise, six months at least before the 
time of their meeting, where and when they intend to 
meet, so that every officer and soldier that served in the 
said War, or the lawful representative of such as served 
and are since deceased, may have an opportunity of enlist- 
ing their names with the said Committee, who are hereby 
ordered to take a list accordingly, and when and so soon 
as the said Committee has received a complete list of the 
names of such persons as have served as aforesaid, or their 
legal representatives (which they are enjoined to do with 



12 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 

all convenient speed) the Grantees shall be obliged to as- 
semble within as short a time as they can conveniently, and 
proceed to the choice of a Committee to regulate each 
society, who shall pae-s such orders and rules, as will effec- 
tually oblige them to settle sixty families in each township, 
with a learned Orthodox Minister, within the space of seven 
years from the date of the grant, Provided, neverthde&s, 
that if the said Grantees shall not effectually settle the said 
number of families in each township, and also lay out a lot 
for the first settled minister, one for tlie ministry, and one 
for the school in each of the said townships, they shall take 
no advantage, but forfeit the said Grant, any thing to the 
contrary contained notwithstanding. 

In Council, read and concurred with the amendments. 

A true copy from the original Records of the General 
Court. 

Attest: EDWAED D. BANGS, 

Secretary of the Commonwealth. 



Saturday, June 15, 1728. 

In the House of Representatives. In answer to 
i;he petition of the soldiers that served in the Narragansett 
"War, Resolved, That Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, 
Major Tilestone, and Mr. John Hobson, (or any three of 
them) be a Committee fully authorized and empowered to 
survey and lay out two townships of the contents of six 
miles square each, in some of the unappropriated lands of 
this Province ; and that the said lands be granted and dis- 
posed of to the persons, whether officers or soldiers, belong- 
ing to this Province, avIio Avere in the service of their 
country in the said Narragansett War, or to their lawful 
representatives, as a reward for their public services, and as 



THE GRANTS. 13 

a full satisfaction of the grant formerly made them by the 
Great and General Court, and inasmuch as it is the full 
intent and purpose that every officer and soldier who served 
in the said vs^ar, should have a compensation made him 
over and above what wages and gratuities any of them 
have already received. That public notice be given in the 
news-letters, and advertisements posted up in every town in 
the Province, notifying all persons that now survive, and 
were in that fight, and the legal representatives of those 
deceased, that they give or send a list of their names and 
descents to the Court in their next Fall Session ; and Avhen 
such list is completed by a Committee then to be appointed 
by this Court, the Grantees shall be obliged to assemble in 
as short a time as they can conveniently, not exceeding six 
months, and proceed to the choice of a Committee to regu- 
late each Propriety, who shall pass such Orders and Rules 
as will effectually oblige them to settle sixty families at least, 
in each township, with a learned Orthodox ISIinister, within 
the space of seven years from the date of the grant. Provi- 
ded, nevertheless, if the said Grantees shall not effectually 
settle the said number of families in each township, and also 
lay out a Lot for the said settled Minister, one for the Min- 
istry, and one for the School, in each of the said townships, 
they shall have no advantage, but forfeit their said grants, 
any thing to the contrary herein contained notwithstanding. 

In Council, read and concurred. 

Consented to. 

W. DUMMER. 

A true copy from the original Records of the General 
Court. 

Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS, 

Secretary of the Commomocalth. 



14 IIISTOIIY OF GOKHAM. 

Friday, June 9, 1732. 

A petition of Thonji;j,s Tilestone and others, a Committee 
in behalf of the Officers and Sokliers in the Narragansett 
War, praying the revival of a vote passed by both houses 
on their former petition, given in at the last Winter Session, 
for enlarging the grant of Land formerly made to them in 
consideration of their great services to this Province in the 
said war. 

Ix THE House of Representatives. Read, and in 
answer to this Petition, Ordered, That such further grant 
be made the Petitioners, as that every one hundred and 
twenty persons, whose claims have been, or shall be allowed 
of by this Court within four months of this time, may have 
a townshij) of the contents of six miles square, under the 
same restrictions and limitations with these towns already 
granted, and that the Committee formerly appointed to 
lay out the Towns of the Narragansett Soldiers, be a Com- 
mittee to lay out the land above granted, and the Province 
be at the charge of laying out the same, but not of any 
subdivisions to any particular persons- 

In Council, read and concurred. 
Consented to. 

A true copy from the original Records of the General 
Court. 

Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS, 

Secretary of the Commomcealth. 



Thursday, April 2G, 1733. 

A Petition of a Committee for the Narragansctt Soldiers, 
shewing that there are the number of eioht hundred and 



THE GRANTS. 15 

forty persons entered as Officers and Soldiers in the late 
Narragansett War, praying that there may be such an ad- 
dition of Land granted to them as may allow a tract of six 
miles square to each one hundred and twenty-seven men so 
admitted. 

In the House of Eepkesextatives. Read, and Or- 
dered, That the prayer of the Petition be granted, and that 
Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, Col. Thomas Tiles- 
tone, Mr. John Hobson, and Mr. Samuel Chandler, (or any 
three of them) be a Committee fiilly authorized and em- 
powered to survey and lay out five more tracts of land for 
townships, of the contents of six miles square each, in some 
of the unappropriated lands of this Province, and the said 
lands (together with the two tOAvns before granted) be 
granted and disposed of to the officers and soldiers who 
were in the Narragansett War, or to their lawful representa- 
tives, as they are or have been allowed by this Court, being 
eight hundred and forty in number in the whole, and is in 
full satisfaction of the Grant formerly made them by the 
General Court, as a rewaixl for their public services, and 
the Grantees shall be obliged to assemble Avithin as short 
time as they can conveniently, not exceeding the space 
of two months, and proceed to the choice of Committees 
respectively to regulate each Proprietary or Township, 
which is to be held and enjoyed by one hundred and twenty 
of the Grantees, each in equal proportion, avIio shall pass 
such Orders and Eulcs as shall effisctually oblige them to 
settle sixty flimilies within each township, with a learned 
Orthodox jNlinister, within the space of seven years from the 
date of this grant. Provided, always, that if the said Gran- 
tees shall not effiictually settle the said number of families 
in each township, and also lay out a lot for the first settled 
Minister, one for the Ministrv, and one for the Scliool in 



16 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

each of the said townships, they shall have no advantage 
of, but forfeit their respective grants, any thing to the con- 
trary contained notwithstanding ; the charge of the survey 
to be paid by the Province. 

In Council, read and concurred. 

Consented to. 

J. BELCHER. 

A true copy from the original Records of the General 
Court. 

Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS, 

Secretary of the Co7nmonwecdth. 



Wednesday, February 2, 1T36. 
In Council, Voted, That Shubael Goreham, Esquire, be 
empowered and directed to assemble the Grantees of the 
township granted to the Soldiers under the command of 
Capt. John Goreham, in the Canada expedition in 1690, in 
such place, and on such time as he shall think fit, then to 
choose a Moderator and Proprietors' Clerk, to agree upon 
Rules, Methods, and Orders, for the division and disposal of 
the said Propriety, in the most proper method for the 
speedy fulfilment of the conditions of their grant, and agree 
iipon methods for calling future meetings. 

In the House of Representatives, read and con- 
curred. 

Consented to. 

J. BELCHER. 

A true copy from the original Records of the General 
Court. 

.Ittest: EDWARD D. BANGS, 

Secretary of the Commonwealth. 



THE GRANTS. 17 

Monday, July 5, 1736. 

In the House of Eepresentatives. Ordered, That 
Shubael Goreliam, Esq., be, and hereby is, fully authorized 
and empowered to assemble and convene, in some suitable 
place, and, as soon as may be, the Grantees of the Narra- 
gansett town. Number Seven, adjoining to Falmouth and 
Presumpsutt River, in the County of York, made to the 
Narragansett officers and soldiers in the company under the 
command of the late Capt. John Goreham, deceased, and in 
answer to the petition of the said Shubael Goreham, Esq., 
that the said Grantees in such time and place, make choice 
of a Proprietors' Clerk, and pass such Rules and Orders as 
may be agreeable to the conditions of the Grant, for bring- 
ing forward the settlement of the township, and also to 
agree on some regular method how to call Proprietors' 
meetings for the future. 

In Council. Read and concurred. 

Consented to. 

J. BELCHER. 

A true copy from the original Records of the General 
Court. 

Attest: EDWARD D. BANGS, 

Secretary of the CommonwealtJi. 



During the administration of Governors Dummer and 
Burnet, the government of Massachusetts had been sparing 
of the public domain. People were cautious of settling at 
any considerable distance from the coast, while Indian wars 
were raging or impending. About 1727, the government 
began to favor the settlement of new townships, and the 
3 



18 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

Governor recommended surveys and appropriations of land 
for settlers. The first grants were for military services. 
By making these grants the government effected two desir- 
able objects. They paid the claims of meritorious officers 
and soldiers, by lands, which they could more easily do than 
make remuneration with money ; and secondly, they gave 
strength and security to the province by settling new towns 
with hardy, industrious and virtuous citizens. 

The grantees of the town of Gorham were a portion of 
the 840 Massachusetts, men and their heirs, who bore arms 
in the Narragansett Expedition, as it was called, in 1675. 

As the grant of the town of Gorham ffrew out of the 
Narragansett war, and as several of the lineal descendants 
of those heroic men who fought in that terrible conflict, still 
reside in this town, they cannot be supposed to be indiffer- 
ent to the history of those exertions which secured safety to 
their families and peace and plenty to their posterity. It 
may not, therefore, be amiss in tracing the history of our 
town to go back and speak of those events that gave rise to 
its settlement. 



THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 19 



CHAPTER III. 

THE NARRAGAXSETT WAR. 

The Narragansett war, or as it was sometimes called, 
King Philip's war, he being the chief instigator and most 
formidable leader, broke out in 1675. By some writers it is 
denominated Paconoket war. Massasoit, a good friend to 
the Plymouth settlers, had two sons named Wamsucket and 
Metacomet. On their own request, the government of 
Plymouth gave them the English names of Alexander and 
Philip. Alexander died in 1662. Metacomet, or Philip, 
was chief of the Wampanoags, of which Paconoket was a 
branch or tribe. 

Philip was an Indian of more than ordinary abilities ; a 
man of sagacity, cunning, and unfaltering courage. He 
formed a deep laid scheme to extirpate the English from 
New England. To exterminate all the whites, and by one 
blow, forever rid his country of her invaders. This was 
the avowed object of Philip. Long and profoundly did he 
meditate on his project ; he spared no toil, fainted under no 
labor or privations. He visited numerous tribes, and by 
his arguments and eloquence, breathed something of his 
own dauntless spirit into their ferocious warriors. With 
great secrecy he effected an extensive confederacy, and 
united in his enterprise the Pocassets, Narragansetts, Nip- 
mugs, Connecticut River Indians, and numerous tribes of 
the Abenaquis, or Eastern Indians. The Pennicooks of 
New Hampshire ; the Ossipecs, the Pequawkets, the Amcr- 



20 - HISTORY OF GORllAM. 

iscoggins, the Norridgewocks, and some of the Canada 
tribes entered into his scheme. War became inevitable, and 
it commenced as most Indian wars have, by a small party, 
who made a night attack on the people of Swansey, a thinly 
settled town adjoining Mount Hope, Philip's headquarters, 
now in the town of Bristol, Khode Island. Nine English- 
men were killed. 

This occurred June 24, 1675. Other tribes immediately 
commenced hostilities. The Nipmugs assaulted several 
towns. In August, the Eastern Indians, on Saco and An- 
droscoggin rivers commenced their murders, and by Decem- 
ber they had killed about fifty English in Maine. Towards 
winter Philip and his chief warriors returned to the Narra- 
gansett country. 

Though Philip had succeeded in persuading many tribes 
to engage in his scheme of exterminating the English in 
America, he could not combine their forces so as to act in 
unison. Neither Indian kings nor Indian councils, could 
collect and keep together, for a long period, any considera- 
ble body of warriors. Their braves had no pay except the 
spoils or plunder of their enemies. They made no provision 
for the clothing or subsistence of their soldiers. Their wars 
were a series of skirmishes. The Indians are ramblers ; 
their mode of fighting was to suddenly and furiously attack 
an unprotected place, in small, skulking parties, who made 
their assaults in the darkness of night, or from an ambus- 
cade ; rush suddenly on their victims with yeUs and shout- 
ings, committing enormous cruelties and rapid devastation. 
These violent assaults soon ceased, and the savages retired 
to celebrate their victory and enjoy their plunder, and then 
plan for another attack in some other quarter. 

The Narragansetts, though pretending to be neutral, 
were known to be friendly to Philip and afforded him assist- 
ance. 



THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 21 

Surrounded as the colonists of Plymouth and Massachu- 
setts were, by pretended friends and implacable enemies, 
they perceived the necessity of uniting their strength with 
that of Connecticut, in order successfully to resist their un- 
relenting foes. 

At that period, (1G75) the whole white population of 
New England did not probably exceed sixty thousand souls. 
And every able bodied man, capable of bearing arms, was 
commanded to hold himself in readiness to march at the 
shortest notice. The three States determined to attack and 
vanquish the Xarragansetts, the most numerous and power- 
ful of the Indian tribes. Rhode Island, though in the im- 
mediate neighborhood, does not appear to have furnished 
any troops. Massachusetts raised six companies of soldiers ; 
Connecticut five ; and Plymouth two. The Plymouth com- 
panies were commanded by Captains Rice and Gorham. 
The Massachusetts and Plymouth forces were commanded 
by Gov. "Winslow of Plymouth. The whole number of 
men composing the English army, was designed to be 1500 ; 
but the whole white army, actually mustered but 1127 men. 

The Narragansett battle was one of the most memorable 
ever fought with savages. The hardship and sufferings of 
that fight have scarcely a parallel. The battle was fought 
on the 10th of Dec, (old style, Dec. 21st, new style,) 1675, 
the shortest day of the year. The day previous was ex- 
tremely cold. Four hundred of the men, (more than one 
third of the whole of the effective force,) were so frozen as 
to be completely unfit for duty. The snow fell fast and deep ; 
the soldiers marched all the preceding night through a tan- 
gled and pathless wood ; they waded through the snow till 
an hour after noon, and then reached the swamp in which 
the Indians had collected, and formed their wooden fortress. 
The battle commenced immediately, and lasted six dread- 
ful hours. The entrance to the fort was narrow, and proved 



22 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

the gate of death to many of our men. Never was there 
a greater exhibition of personal courage. " Victory was 
with the white men" ; but it was by no means a blood- 
less one on the part of our fiithers. Six brave Captains 
fell on that day ! " Davenport, Gallop, Gardner, Johnson, 
Marshall, and Sieley, led their companies through the nar- 
row entrance in the face of death, and left their hves as 
a testimony of their patriotism and courage !" Of Capt. 
Gorham's company thirty were killed and forty-one wound- 
ed. More than 700 Indian warriors were killed ; besides 
many women and children were slain by the assailants, or 
were destroyed by flames and suflTocation in the burning fort 
and wigwams — not more than 200 or 300 Indians escaped. 
This fortress was in a swamp, called Pattysquamscut. 

" Thus," says Bancroft, *' were swept away, the humble 
glories of the Narragansetts ! The winter stores of the 
tribe, their curiously wrought baskets full of corn, their 
famous strings of wampum, their wigwams nicely warmed 
with mats ; all the little comforts of savage life were con- 
sumed ; and more, their old men, their women, their babes, 
perished by hundreds in the fire." 

The victory was complete. The power of the Narragan- 
setts forever broken ! The Indians abandoned every hope, 
but their feelings of hatred and revenge were not abated 
or softened. Homeless and houseless, they sought to de- 
stroy the houses and homes of the white men ! "Without 
shelter and without food, they hid in swamps, or plundered 
exposed dwellings. Town after town in Massachusetts, 
Connecticut and Ehode Island, felt their vengeance and 
were destroyed. Men, women, and children barbarously 
murdered, or led into terrible captivity. Within a year 
from the Narragansett fight, the dauntless Philip was killed 
by a faithless Indian, his wife and only son made prisoners ; 
and that son, the innocent young Prince of the Paconokets, 



THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 23 

was sold for a slave in the Island of Bermuda. Duringr 
Philip's war about three thousand Indians were slain. 

After the battle, which ended in the evening, our shatter- 
ed army left the ground in haste, and in another dismal 
and boisterous night, Avere obli2:ed to wade eighteen miles 
through deep snow before the wounded could be dressed, or 
any one receive refreshment. 

The place where this memorable battle was fought, was 
on an area of about five acres, on an island in a very large 
swamp, in South Kingston, Rhode Island. 

The death of Philip, and the overthroAV of the Xarragan- 
setts forever broke the power of the Indians in Massachu- 
setts. Her soldiers had suffered terribly by these savage 
wars. They had now conquered their implacable foes, and 
achieved a great and enduring benefit for their country. 
Massachusetts was poor, and could pay her meritorious 
officers and soldiers but small wages. The days of pensions 
had not yet arrived in New England ; the Colony had no 
means of remunerating her warriors except by grants of 
unimproved public lands ; she therefore resorted to that 
mode of compensation. 

The officers and soldiers, who survived the sanguinary 
conflict with the Narragansetts, petitioned the colonial leg- 
islature for a grant of land.* The first petition, I find, was 
that of William Bassett and others. On this petition the 
General Court made a gi-ant of " a tract of land in the 
Nipmug country, of eight miles square," on certain condi- 
tions to be fulfilled by the grantees. The Nipmug country 
was in Massachusetts, in the County of Worcester. This 
grant was made in May, 1685, Avithin ten years of the 
Narragansett war. I cannot find that this eight mile square 
grant was ever located. 

*.Sce copies of the Grants, ante. 



24 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 

Whether the political troubles in the Province, at that 
period, or the dissatisfaction of the grantees at the small- 
ness of the grant, occasioned the failure, I know not ; but 
I cannot find that any thing farther was done under that 
grant. 

The next movement of the Narragansett soldiers, of 
which I find any account, is a petition entered before the 
Governor and Council, dated July 1st, 1727. This peti- 
tion was signed by Samuel Chandler and Jacob Wright, in 
behalf of themselves and others. 

In response to this petition, the General Court, by a Re- 
solve, empowered a Committee, by them appointed, to sur- 
vey and lay out two tracts of land, of the contents of six 
miles square, of unappropriated lands of the Province, to 
the persons who were in the service of their country in 
the Narragansett war, or to their legal representatives. 
(See Grant or Resolve, page 11.) This Resolve was passed 
Dec. 14, 1727. 

June 15, 1728, a Resolve was passed in answer to the 
petition of the soldiers that served in the Narragansett war, 
empowering Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, Major 
Tilestone, and Mr. John Hobson, or any three of them, to 
survey and lay out two townships, of the contents of six 
miles square, in satisfaction of the grants formerly made 
the Narragansett soldiers. (See Resolve, page 12.) A pe- 
tition for enlarging the grant was presented to the General 
Court in 1731-32. June 8, 1732, an order was made that 
every 120 persons, whose claims were, or might be al- 
lowed within four months, may have a township of six 
miles square. And such a grant was made by the Gen- 
eral Court, April 26, 1733. This grant was passed, and 
consented to by Governor Jonathan Belcher, April 26, 
1733. 

It was found that 840 men, belonging to Massachusetts, 



THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 25 

carried arms in the Narragansett war. For these men, 
and their heirs, the Legislature of that Province granted 
seven townships ; two in 1728, and five more in 1732. 
These seven townships were granted on the terms then gen- 
erally imposed, viz : — The grantees were to meet within 
two months, and organize each propriety, to consist of 120 
persons ; to settle sixty families in each new town in seven 
years ; to settle a learned Orthodox minister ; to erect a 
meeting house ; to clear a certain number of acres of land ; 
and to reserve a certain proportion of the township for the 
support of schools, the ministry, and the first settled minis- 
ter. The grantees were required to meet and choose com- 
mittees to superintend their general concerns and determine 
the rights of the claimants. In accordance with these require- 
ments, the grantees held a meeting on Boston Common, on 
the sixth day of June, 1733, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and formed 
themselves into seven distinct societies, of 120 names each, 
which should be entitled to one of the Narragansett town- 
ships. Three persons were chosen firom each society, to 
make out a list of the grantees, and to assign the townships 
to each company, and to assemble the grantees of the re- 
spective societies to elect officers and manage their affairs. 
At this meeting it was voted, that one of the societies, con- 
sisting of 120 persons, should consist mostly of proprietors 
belonging to the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Eastham, 
Sandwich, Plymouth, Tisbury, Abington, Duxbury, and 
one from Scituate. To this society, headed by the name of 
Capt. John Gorham, was assigned township denominated 
Narragansett, No. 7, Avhich is now the town of Gorham.* 
The seven committees (twenty-one men) met at Luke 
Verdey's, in Boston, October 17, 1733, and assigned the 
several townships as follows, viz : — 

*For a list of the names of the Proprietors of Narragansett, No. 7, see 
appendix. 

4 



26 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Narragansett, No. 1, on Saco River, now Buxton, Me. 

Narragansett, No. 2, at Wachuset, adjoining Rutland, 
Mass. 

Narragansett, No. 3, on Souhegan River, now Amherst, 
N. H. 

Narragansett No. 4, at Amoskeag, N. H. 

Narragansett, No. 5, on Merrimac River, now Merrimac 
and Bedford, N. H. 

Narragansett, No. 6, called Soutlatown, now Templeton, 
Mass. 

Narragansett, No. 7, on Presumscot River, now Gorham, 
Me. 

The committee for the township of Narragansett, No. 7, 
Avere Col. Shubael Gorham, Timothy White, and Robert 
Standfort. At that meeting. Deacon Jonathan Williams, 
of Boston, was chosen Treasurer of the whole Narragansett 
Society or Grantees. At that time, 1733, but few of the 
persons actually engaged in the Narragansett battle, were 
livino;. The srant was made to the officers and soldiers of 
that war, or some one representative of some officer or 
soldier, " The true intent and meaning of the grant was, 
that the persons only, who were in that war, should be en- 
titled to share in the grant." 

And if such officer or soldier was deceased, then his legal 
representatives were entitled to the benefit ; and when there 
were diverse descendants of a person who had a right, they 
should agree and consent it should belong to one only, viz : 
to the oldest heir male, if such there be, otherwise the old- 
est heir female, (if they please) shall hold the land, paying 
to the other heirs, or descendants, such proportional part of 
<£10, which was the supposed value of a right, viz : the 
lioth part of the township, as such descendants or heirs 
would be entitled to, if such lands descended according to 
the law of the Province, for the settlement of intestate 
estates. 



THE NARRAGANSETT WAR. 27 

This order was passed April 18, 1733. It was reported 
to the General Court by Thomas Palmer, Chairman of the 
Committee of both Houses, on the affairs of settling the 
towns granted to the Narragansett soldiers, and consented 
to by Gov. Belcher. 

By the same Committee it was farther reported, and it 
was ordered, that the seven years for settling said townships 
be computed from the first day of January 1734, to end 
January 1, 1741. 

A small grant of land, in what is now Gorham, had been 
previously made by the Provincial Legislature of INIassachu- 
setts, to one Joseph Mallison of Boston. The grant was for 
two hundred acres of land. Why the grant Avas made, 
does not appear ; probably, on condition of erecting mills at 
what are now called Horsebeef Falls, on Presumscot River. 
For many years the Falls bore the name of Mallison's Falls, 
and they are so called in the Proprietors' Eecords. The 
General Court ordered a survey and plan to be made of this 
grant. Phineas Jones was the surveyor, and Nathaniel 
Knight and Samuel Libby carried the chain. A plan was 
returned to the Legislature, and the grant was then con- 
firmed to Mallison. The tract is described as " two hundred 
acres in the County of York, by Presumscot Eiver, forty- 
five rods above the upper part of the Fourth Great Falls 
from the mouth of Presumscot River, about five miles above 
the Great Fall at Saccarappa." This, I suppose, was the 
first surveying of land in Gorham. Joseph MalHson con- 
veyed this two hundred acres, March 16, 1733, to Gen- 
eral Samuel Waldo, of Boston, for <£50 in bills of credit. 
Neither Mallison or Waldo erected mills on this grant. 
General Waldo- seems to have wished to acquire as much 
of the water power in this region as possible ; he owned 
Capisic mill privilege, most of Presumscot Lower Falls, all 
at Congen, and nearly all of Saccarappa Falls. 



28 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

A few years later the proprietors of this township made 
a grant of four hundred acres near Little Falls, where Fac- 
tory village now is ; it was on Presumscot Kiver, adjoining 
to, and above Mallison's grant. The area was a parallelo- 
gram, one hundred and sixty rods on the river ; its lower 
side was five hundred and eight rods, its upper side three 
hundred and one rods fi-om the river. 

This grant was made to Governor Shirley, in these 
words : — " Voted and granted to His Excellency William 
Shirley, Esq., Governor of the Province of Massachusetts 
Bay, his heirs and assigns forever, four hundred acres of 
the common and undivided lands within said township." 
" Voted, That Moses Pearson, Jno. Gorham, Esq., and 
Joshua Bangs be a committee to lay out the same, pursuant 
to said grant." 

The Committee made their report December 20, 1743, in 
the following words : — 

"We, the subscribers, having been chosen by the pro- 
prietors of Gorhamtown, as a Committee to lay out four 
hundred acres of land, voted and granted to His Excel- 
lency, William Sliirley, Esq., have, agreeable to their vote, 
laid out the same as within described. 
Signed, 

JOHN GOEHAM, ) 

MOSES PEARSON, i ^'^oprietors' 

JOSHUA BANGS, ) Oommittee:' 

The description of the plan was : — 

" December 20, 1743. 

Within these bounds is contained four hundred acres of 
upland, lying on Presumscot River, and adjoining to the 
land granted by the Great and General Court to Mr. Joseph 
Mallison, as described in this plan, which I, the subscriber. 



THE NARRAQANSETT WAR. 29 

have surveyed, by'the .desire of the Committee of Gorham- 
town, so called, appointed by the Proprietors of said town, 
to lay out said premises to His Excellency, WiUiam Shirley, 
Esq. 

WILLIAM POTE, Jr., Surmyorr 

This grant, I suppose, was made on account of some ser- 
vice Gov. Shirley may have rendered the Proprietors about 
their township ; or it may have been to gain the counte- 
nance and good will of the Governor. Similar grants were 
made in other townships to His Excellency, who was always 
alive to his own pecuniary interests. 

A shrewd historical writer says : — " Shirley was an en- 
terprising man, and having mounted, (no matter by what 
means,) to the Governor's chair, he saw in a young and 
growing country, vast prospects opening before his eyes, 
and he conceived great designs of aggrandizing himself, 
his family, and his friends." 



30 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

SURVEY AKD LOTTING OF THE TOWNSHIPS, — FIRST 
SETTLEMENT. 

The township liaving been tlius granted and assigned, 
the grantees took measures to bring forward the settlement 
of their lands. It was determined to make a survey of one 
hundred and twenty lots of thirty acres each, for the first 
division, to be followed by two other divisions, viz : the 
second division of one hundred acre lots ; and the third 
division of seventy acre lots. In all, two hundred acres for 
each proprietor. Each right was to have one lot in all the 
divisions. The first division of thirty acre lots, was made 
as compactly as could well be done, on the proposed two 
roads, crossino; each other at rio;ht angles. These lots were 
made small, that the settlers might live near each other, for 
the purpose of mutual aid and defence against savages. 
The external lines of the town were run and marked in 
1734. The thirty acre lots were surveyed, located, num- 
bered, drawn and confirmed to each right in 1735. Sever- 
al roads were located the same year. A few lots, or rights 
of land were sold prior to their location or numbering. 
The first Deed I find on record, in York County Registry, 
is that of Thomas Thornton of Dorchester, Massachusetts, 
to Col. Shubael Gorham, of 120 th undivided part of Nar- 
ragansett No. 7. Said Thornton certifying that he was one 
of the Narragansett soldiers. The consideration named in 



SUEVEY AND FIRST SETTLEMENT. 31 

the Deed was £5, and was dated June 12th, 1735. During 
this year, Col. Shubael Gorham purchased several other 
rights of ]a)th part each, of Joseph Akers of Sandwich, 
Elisha Hall of Yarmouth, John Maker of Harwich, Robert 
Nickerson of Chatham, and several others. Col. S. Gor- 
ham soon became a large proprietor, and of him many early 
settlers purchased lots. 

The township had noAV been prepared for settlers. As 
yet, however, it was an unbroken wilderness, covered with 
a magnificent growth of valuable forest trees. In May, 
1736, the first trees were felled for clearing land for agricul- 
tural purposes. John Phinney, a son of one of the con- 
querers of the Narragansetts, a descendant of the Pilgrims, 
a wanderer from the old Colony of Plymouth, disembarked 
from his canoe on Presumscot Eiver, attended by his eldest 
son, fourteen years of age, with an axe, gun, and a small 
quantity of provisions and ammunition, to select a spot for 
his future home. Proceeding westerly nearly two miles 
from the river, he chose a sunny, elevated lot, on the south- 
ern slope of Fort Hill, and there that son, Edmund Phin- 
ney, afterwards distinguished, not only in various town and 
State offices, but as a Colonel of the Revolutionary army, 
felled the first tree for clearing a farm. This was on a lot 
adjoining what is now called Fort Hill road, formerly King 
Street, about one mile northerly from the principal village 
in Gorham. This land is now owned by Mr. Moses Fogg. 

John Phinney, the first settler of Gorham, was a son of 
Deacon John Phinney, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, and 
was bom in that toAvn, April 8th, (old style) 1693 ; he 
was consequently forty-three years old when he commenced 
the settlement of Gorham. In Barnstable he had married 
Martha Colman. There they had five children born. In 
1732, he removed his family to Falmouth, (Portland) and 
they had two children born in Falmouth. Capt. Phinney 



32 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

removed to Gorham in 1736, and in this town his three 
younger children were born, viz : — Mary Gorham, Colman 
and James. Mary Gorham Phinney, daughter of Captain 
John Phinney and Martha, his wife, was born in August, 
1736. Soon after her j^arents removed here ; she was the 
first white child born in Gorham. 

She married James Irish, father of Gen. James Irish. 
They left numerous descendants. Mrs. Irish was a pro- 
fessor of religion for seventy years, and during that long 
period she adorned her profession by an exemplary life of 
virtue and benevolence, maintaining the relations of daugh- 
ter, wife, and mother, in an unexceptionable manner, distin- 
guished for industry, kindness and hospitality. She died 
in 1825, at the advanced age of 89 years, leaving behind 
her a memory dear to many, and a character worthy the 
commendation of all. 

Colman Phinney, the second child, bom in Gorham, was 
killed by a falling tree, when about ten years of age. 

James Phinney, the youngest son of Capt. John Phinney, 
was born April 24, (old style) 1741 ; he lived till October, 
1834, in the 94th year of his age, highly respected for his 
integrity, capacity, and useful life ; intelligent, and always 
cheerful and hopeful ; an eminent christian professor for 80 
years. He retained his strong mental faculties, and died in 
full possession of a sound mind and correct judgment ; and 
what is still more rare, a tenacious and unimpaired memory 
up to the age of 93 years. He rarely, if ever, forgot 
important events of the town or nation, or erred in names 
or dates. Mr. James Phinney enjoyed through his pro- 
tracted life the confidence of his townsmen, and held many 
important municipal offices. 

Capt. John Phinney lived in this town about two years 
before any other white family ; his first dwelling house 
was a few rods northerly from the place on which Moses 



SURVEY AND FIRST SETTLEMENT. 33 

Foffsr's house now stands. Some Indian families liad wio;- 
wams near by, and for two years Phinney's children had no 
other playmates but young Indians. 

For some years Capt. Phinney had to go to Presumscot 
Lower Falls to mill ; he also transported his corn, salt, and 
other provisions on a float, or small boat, up and down the 
Presumscot River, carrying them round the Falls at Sacca- 
rappa and Congen — or, as the place was then called, Amon- 
Congen. There Avas no pathway through the forest to 
Portland. In these fatiguing and dangerous journeys to 
mill, he was frequently assisted by his oldest daughter, 
Elizabeth ; she used to help her father carry his boat and 
bags of corn, or meal, round the Falls, and assist him in 
rowing;. Elizabeth Phinnev, afterwards married Deacon 
Eliphalet Watson. 

It is said that the second settler of the town was Daniel 
Mosier, (now usually written Mosher.) Some say the sec- 
ond family that settled in tOAvn w^as that of Hugh McLellan. 
It is difficult to decide which of these two was xhe second 
settler. They came very near the same time. Daniel Mo- 
sier* removed from Falmouth to this town in 1738. His 
first ancestor in Maine was Hugh Mosier, of French origin. 
Hugh Mosier owned land in Falmouth as early as 1640. 
Daniel Mosier was the son of James Mosier, who died in 
Gorham in 1734, at the age of 99 years and three months. 
There are numerous descendants of Daniel, now residing in 
town. 

Hugh McLellan came from the north of Ireland, and 
settled near where Asa Palmer, Esq., now lives, about a 
quarter of a mile north of Gorham Seminary. Soon after 
McLellan, William Pote, William Cotton, Ebenezer Hall, 

* I find in early writings the name written Mosier, Mozier, Mozear, 
and Mozhear. Mosier, I believe, was the correct way of spelling the 
name. 

5 



34: HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 

Ellphalet Watson, Clement Harvey, Bartholomew Thorn, 
John Irish, John Eayr, Jacob Hamblen, Benjamin Skillings, 
and others, moved into the town as settlers. ' 



HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLERS. 35 



CHAPTEK V. 

HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLERS. 

It required no small share of courage, firmness, and enter- 
prise, to go into the wilderness and commence a settlement 
at that period. Let us, for a moment, contemplate the sit- 
uation of the Province of Maine at the time when Capt. 
Phinney began the settlement of this town. There were 
but nine towns and a few feeble plantations in Maine ; Port- 
land, Saco, and Scarborough, were but just recovering from 
their recent destruction by the Indians. A second line of 
townships from the coast had just been located, and were 
frontier places — all back of them was wilderness. The In- 
dians, though nominally at peace, were restless, discon- 
tented, jealous, and meditated revenge for past chastisements 
and victories obtained over them. 

In 1690, aU the settlements east of Wells were destroyed. 
In the Indian wars from 1703 to 1713, Maine lost one-third 
of all her population ; and a large proportion of the personal 
property was destroyed ; through extreme want and suffer- 
ing, many persons were driven away, never to return. In 
1724, the Norridgewocks were broken up ; in 1725, Capt. 
Lovell and his company killed or dispersed the Pequawket 
Indians at Fryeburg. In 1736, the whole population of 
Maine was probably not more than 7000. In 1735-6 and 7, 
the scarlet fever, or (as it was usually called) throat distem- 
per, raged throughout Maine, and more than five hundred 



36 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 

persons died >vith that disease ; in some towns it was pe- 
culiarly fatal ; in Scarborough, no one attacked with the 
distemjjer recovered. 

The inhabitants in all the new towns, suffered greatly 
from want of food, clothing, and comfortable houses ; while 
danger from the Indians was constant and pressing. Fam- 
ine, massacre, and captivity, threatened them continually. 
It required men like the Puritans, to undertake and carry 
through the hazardous enterprise of settling new towns 
amono; savao^e beasts and savage men. 

The early fathers of Gorham were persons of such char- 
acters. The first settlers of our town were from a noble 
stock ; the direct descendants of the Pilgrims. Almost all 
the first inhabitants were from the old Colony ; nearly every 
town on Cape Cod contributed one or more settlers for Nar- 
ragansett, No. 7. The Grantees, Capt. John Gorham and 
company, belonged to the following towns, viz : forty from 
Barnstable — thirty-nine from Yarmouth — twenty-two from 
Eastham — seven from Sandwich — three from Plymouth — six 
from Duxbury — and one from each of the towns of Abing- 
ton and Scituate — besides Captain Gorham, who was a 
Yarmouth man. The wives and daughters of the first set- 
tlers of Gorham, shared in all the toils and wants of their 
husbands and fathers ; they used to labor in the field and 
the forest, carry burdens, go to mill, gather the harvest 
and assist in the defences of their households and their 
property. 

Our early inhabitants partook largely of the character of 
their ancestors. They were a hardy, enterprising, virtuous 
race of men ; of indomitable courage — unbending firmness 
— uncompromising integrity — sober, industrious, frugal, and 
temperate in all things. They were distinguished for endur- 
ing fortitude and oj)en-handed hospitality. They were not 
eminent for attainments in literature or the sciences ; they 



HARDSHIPS OF THE SETTLERS. 37 

were not deficient in talents, but they had not leisure or 
opportunity for the cultivation of letters. They did all 
they could do, and more than might have been expected of 
them to do, in such times, and in their position. In their 
humble dwellings in the wilderness, they had little leisure 
for the study of books, had they possessed them. Their 
minds were incessantly occupied in devising ways to obtain 
sustenance and clothing for themselves and families, and in 
providing means for defence against artful and revengeful 
foes. Exhausted with labors, and worn with anxious cares, 
they could not be expected to attend to the elegancies and 
blandishments of older and wealthier communities. 

They might at this day be called intolerant in their reli- 
gious views and practices ; but they were in this respect, 
like other sects of their age. Undoubtedly they were zeal- 
ous for what they considered to be the truth. A stern and 
somewhat severe morality prevailed among the Puritans ; 
and it would have been strange if their immediate descend- 
ants had not been somewhat like their fathers, following 
their advice, obeying their precepts, and living according to 
their example. 

Our Puritan fathers felt conscious that religion, virtue 
and knowledge, were essential to good government, and the 
permanent welfare of the community ; hence they spared 
no pains to support the gospel, to inculcate morality in the 
minds of their children, and to provide means for their edu- 
cation. At the very first meeting of the Proprietors of this 
town, one of their first votes was to provide for preaching 
and religious instruction. They never forgot the great and 
momentous object for which the Pilgrims settled in New 
England, — religious freedom and liberty of conscience. 
They entered the Avilderness for purity of religion ; to found 
a religious commonwealth ; to raise up a pious race. Un- 
like the Spanish adventurers in South America, tlicy thirst- 



38 HISTOIiY OF GORHAM. 

ed not for a career of military glory ; they clierished no 
extravagant ambition ! They looked not on immeasurable 
lands] with the longing eye of cupidity ; they exj^ectcd no 
brilliant success, nor anticipated finding crystal streams 
whose sands sparkled with gold ! They sought not the sun- 
ny plains and exuberant verdure of the south ! They sought 
not a clime gay with perennial flowers, with a balmy atmos- 
phere, or Italian skies ; they sought not a land of gold or of 
spices, of wine or of oil. Other and purer wishes were 
theirs ; they expected not a life of luxury or ease. Sanctity 
of conscience was their ffreat tenet ; " their reliijion was 
their life." Rigorous Avas the climate, and hard the soil 
where they chose to dwell. Here a countless train of priva- 
tions and sufferings awaited them, privations and sufferings 
that might have made the less brave and energetic quail. 
Cold and hunger, and fear of midnight slaughter, or cruel 
captivity by savage bands was their portion. Under this 
load of evils, what but a firm belief in the sacredness of their 
cause, and the consolations derived from the sublime truths 
of Christianity could have sustained them. To their reli- 
gious belief, their exemplary lives, their untiring persever- 
ance and indefatigable industry, are we indebted for the 
blessings of freedom, plenty, and knowledge now enjoyed 
by our citizens. Great are our obligations to our brave 
and virtuous fathers ; great also to our noble and heroic 
mothers, who dwelt here in the middle of the last century. 
Though we have often heard of their labors and sufferings, 
it is difficult fully to appreciate them. " Their misery was 
great ! For months they had neither meat nor bread," and 
often they knew not where to get food for the morrow. 
Yet in all their wants and trials, their confidence in the 
goodness of God was never shaken. 

The first sixteen years after the settlement of Gorham, 
were years of great anxiety and suffering ; at one time all 



IIARDSHirS OF THE SETTLERS. 39 

the provision the family of Capt. Phinney had, for some 
days, was tAvo quarts of boiled wheat which had been re- 
served for seed. 

At that period, all the towns in Maine were obliged to 
erect and maintain garrisons, or forts, for places of refuge 
against Indian attacks. These forts were constructed of 
hewn timber, with palisades of large posts set deep in the 
ground, closely together outside the timber, ten or twelve 
feet high ; watch boxes were built on the top of the walls ; 
the whole was bidlet proof. The fort in Gorham was built 
on the 30 acre lot, No. 2, close to the old burying ground, 
on what is still called Fort Hill, and wliich is the most 
elevated land in the town. 

The fort had two six pounder swivels placed at diagonal 
corners, for the purpose of defence against the Indians, and 
to be fired to alarm the adjoining towns of Buxtou and 
Windham, Avlien savages were discovered in the vicinity. 

The first meeting of the Proprietors was held at the house 
of Capt. John Phinney, on the 24th of Nov., 1741. Moses 
Pearson was chosen Moderator, and John Gorham, Clerk ; 
two days afterwards, (Nov. 26) the Proprietors voted, 
" That a meeting house be built for the worship of God, in 
said town, 36 feet long, 20 feet wide, with 20 feet shed ;" 
and fifty shillings on a right, (two hundred acres) was 
voted, in order to erect said meeting house, and to clear a 
suitable tract of land to set the same upon. On the next 
Monday, at an adjourned meeting, it was voted, " That 
twenty rods square be cleared on the west side of the way 
called King Street, in order for building a meeting house 
thereon." So soon, and so liberally did the first settlers of 
Gorham make provision for religious worship. 

At the same meeting it was also voted, " That William 
Pote, John Phinney, and Daniel Mozier, be a committee to 
lay out a road through the woods, from the end of Gorham 



40 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Street to Saccarappa mills. This road was what is now 
called the old County Road from Gorham village by James 
Phinney's, Benjamin Mosier's and the Tyng place, to Sac- 
carappa. In 1743, at a Proprietors' meeting, held Feb. IG, 
it was voted, " To raise sixpence on a right, to pay Daniel 
Mozier, provided he look out and spot a road direct to 
Black Point." At the same meeting, " 400 acres of land 
was granted to John Gorham, in that corner of the town- 
ship adjoining Falmouth and Presumscot River ; he, the 
said Gorham, to finish or cause to be finished, the saw mill 
and grist mill that he hath already begun in said township 
on Little River." These were the first mills erected in 
Gorham. 



INDIANS. 41 



CHAPTER VI. 

mBlANS. 

It is not known that any Indian tribe ever had a perma- 
nent location in this town. It is, however, certain that 
many of the natives had a temporary residence here. When 
white people first came here, they found Indian wifjjwams, 
cultivated corn fields, and well marked Indian trails from 
Sebago Lake, Presumscot and Saco rivers. Indian imple- 
ments, stone axes, chisels, arrow heads, have been plowed 
up Matliin a few years. Gambo seems to be the only locali- 
ty in town that bears an Indian name. Indian Camp Brook, 
running by the Longfellow place, and Presumscot Eiver, 
are the only other names that remind us of the Aborigines. 

Gorham was rather an Indian thoroughfare than a home. 
Through this township they went to the sea shore in Scar- 
borough and Saco, where fish and fowl Avere abundant. 
This township also afforded them good hunting grounds. 
Moose, deer, bears, otters, beavers, and foxes were plentiful. 
They furnished much of the meat, and their skins were val- 
uable articles of trade for the first settlers. The Indians 
had fishing stations on Presumscot and Little Rivers, where 
salmon, shad, alewives and other fish, were taken in great 
quantities at certain seasons of the year. The Indians that 
frequented this town, when first settled, belonged mostly to 
the St. Francois tribe, of Canada. JMany of that tribe be 
longed originally to the Androscoggins, the Pequawkets, and 
6 



42 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

the Ossipees, who had been driven from this part of Maine. 
Just before the fifth Indian war broke out, there were more 
Indians than whites residing in this town ; they were not 
then hostile to the settlers, though they were notorious 
thieves and beo-o-ars. When war broke out these Indians 
retreated to Canada, and joined the French, and being well 
acquainted with this part of Maine, they became rangers 
and spies, able and willing to lead their warriors and friends 
to the feeble white settlements. During the war of 1745- 
50, Indians were often seen and recognized by citizens of 
Gorham, as those they had formerly known as neighbors. 
It is related that at one time In a skirmish between some of 
our settlers and a war party, one of the young Phlnneys 
encountered an Indian whom he knew, of about his own age, 
who grew up in this town, Avith whom Phlnney had often 
played ; but now their meeting was hostile. A few hurried 
words passed between them while preparing for a conflict. 
They both fired, the Indian's ball just grazed Phlnney whose 
shot laid his savao;e antafronist dead on the ofround. 

At another time young William McLellan, (or young 
Bill, as he Avas called,) while hoeing corn, discovered a 
young Indian whom he had formerly well known ; the native 
was crawling stealthily to the end of the row of corn that 
Bill was hoeing. McLellan had his gun in the field, but it 
was some rods back, by a large stump. Bill turned back 
with his hoe, cutting down a weed or two, as If to hoe his 
corn better ; he reached the stump and crawled round it so 
as to Interpose the stump between him and the Indian, and 
then crept undiscovered to some bushes — the savage sup- 
posing Bill was by the stump, silently crawled to It, and 
raising himself cautiously was looking round ; Bill had a 
fair aim, and calling to his former playmate, said, " you 
no shoot young Bill this time," fired Instantly and wounded 
the Indian, who placed his hand over the wound, and ran 



INDIANS. 43 

for the woods, exclaiming, " Bill, you shoot him well this 
time." The gun barrel with Avhich young Bill shot the In- 
dian, is now (1861) in the possession of Col. Hugh D. Mc- 
Lellan of Gorham. 

In 1715, what is called the fifth Indian war broke out. 
Narragansett, No. 7, being a frontier town, was entirely ex- 
posed to assaults from the savages ; the fcAV inhabitants 
were obliged to be on watchful guard day and night ; often 
compelled to fly to garrison ; to labor with arms in their 
hands ; their crops were injured or destroyed ; their fences 
broken down ; their cattle killed ; their buildings burned ; 
themselves killed or carried captive to Canada. 

These aggravated and repeated distresses disheartened 
some of the settlers ; they abandoned their houses and fields, 
and removed to places less Hable to attack. In Gorham the 
settlers lived for years in a state of painful anxiety ; they 
were prevented from cultivating their lands ; . their mills 
were burned ; and the distressed families, shut up in the 
fort, were in danger of starvation ! At the commencement 
of this French and Indian war, there were eighteen families 
in this town ; nine of which moved into the garrison where 
they were closely shut i»p for four years. They were in the 
fortress seven years. Eleven soldiers were furnished by the 
government of Massachusetts to assist in protecting the gar- 
rison and procuring the necessaries of life. 

Nine families removed into the fort, viz.: those of Capt. 
John Phinney, Jacob Hamblen, Daniel Mosier, Hugh Mc- . 
Lellan, Clement Harvey, John Eeed, Edward Cloutman, 
Jeremiah Hodgdon and Eliphalet Watson. 

Those who left the town were William Pote, James Irish, 
John Eayr, Caleb Cromwell, Ebenezer Hall, William Cot- 
ton, Benjamin Shillings, and Benjamin Stevens. Of these 
most went to Falmouth, a few to Massachusetts ; nearly all 
of them returned to the town after the war closed, and set- 
tled on their lands. 



44 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Tlie 19th of April, (old style) corresponding to April 30 
now, was a disastrous day to the little band of settlers in 
Gorham. On that sad day, a family of the name of Bryant 
was cut off by Indian cruelty ! The father and children 
slain in a barbarous manner I the wife and mother carried 
away, heart-broken, into captivity, and two of the most 
hardy and effective men, lieed and Cloutman, taken prison- 
ers, and marched through the woods to Canada. On that 
morning there were four fiimilies that had not removed to 
the garrison, viz : Bryant's, Reed's, Cloutman's and Mc- 
Lellan's, Bryant contemplated moving the day preceding 
the massacre, but concluded to defer it one day longer to 
complete some family arrangement. They had an infant 
but two weeks old ; the mother wished to have a cradle for 
her little one, and said if the father would remain in their 
dwelling that day and make the cradle, she would risk her 
scalp one day longer ! That risk was a fatal one ! A party 
of ten Indian warriors had entered the town unknoAvn to the 
inhabitants. Some of the savages had previously lived in the 
town ; they knew the people and where they lived ; they 
ascertained who had not removed to the fort. Their inten- 
tion was to take the four families captive without alarming 
the garrison ; for this purpose they divided into parties. 
Early in the morning of the day before named, Bryant and 
his eldest son went to a field to repair fences ; one of the 
Indian parties came upon them, and as they were not able 
to capture them, they shot Bryant and his son, as they en- 
deavored to escape to the fort. The place Avhere Mr. 
Bryant was killed, is on the low ground south of where 
Nathaniel Hamblen now lives, and near the main road. 
Bryant's house stood about fifty rods northerly of where 
George Pendleton, Esq., lives, near where a town road 
crosses Fort Hill road, about half a mile northerly from 
Gorham Seminary. The savages then proceeded to Bry- 



INDIANS. 45 

ant's house, and murdered and scalped four of his children ! 
They dashed out the brains of the inflmt against the stone 
fire place ! The agonized and frantic mother, feeble and 
powei'less, had to witness the destruction of all that was 
dear to her heart ! to leave her husband dead in the way, 
and the mangled bodies of her loved and innocent children 
in her desolate mansion, and with feelings of bitter anguish, 
which none may describe, under the weight of her terrible 
bereavement, go captive with the destroyers of all her 
earthly happiness, through pathless forests, tangled SAvamps, 
and over rugged mountains, to a people whose language 
she could not understand, and Avho were her enemies and 
the enemies of her people, kindred and friends ! 

Hugh McLellan's family lived near where Asa Palmer, 
Esq., now resides ; Eeed lived on what is called the Miller 
place, now owned by George Pendleton, Esq. ; Edward 
Cloutman, (or Cloudman, as the name is now generally 
spelled) lived on the Col. Nath'l Frost farm, a little above 
Reed's, while Bryant's house was some thirty rods above 
Cloutman's, and nearer the fort. All about half a mile 
southerly of the garrison. 

The following account of the Indian attack at Gorham, 
April 19, 1746, is compiled from a Manuscript kindly loaned 
me by Col. Hugh D. McLellan, who wrote it from the rela- 
tion of Mrs. Abigail McLellan, some forty years ago. Mrs. 
McLellan died about 1821, at an advanced age ; she was a 
girl at the time of the massacre, living in her father's family, 
and well remembered the terrible events she related : — 

" All the families remaining in Gorham had removed into 
the fort during the winter and early part of spring, except 
four ; they remained on their lands, hoping to get their 
ploughing and sowing done, so they might raise some crops. 
Capt. John Phinney, the patriarch of the settlement, who 
exercised a fatherly care over the weak and feeble planta- 



46 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

tion, was urgent to have all in the garrison ; he feeling cer- 
tain that the Indians would be upon them as soon as the 
ground was bared of snow. As the spring opened he en- 
treated the settlers to make no delay about moving into the 
fort, a place of comparative safety, and where they might 
unite in defending each other. The forwardness of the 
season increased his anxiety. 

" On the evening of the 18th of April, the McLellan fam- 
ily had completed their day's labor, and were assembled in 
their log house ; they expected to complete their work in a 
field the next day, and then designed to move immediately 
into the garrison. The evening was pleasant and warm ; 
their door was open, and their family dog reclining outside, 
on the ground ; suddenly the dog growled and became excit- 
ed, and acted as if he discovered danger ; the dog's conduct 
alarmed the family, and they uttered the word, Indians I 
The door was quickly closed and fastened ; their light was 
extinguished ; the windows, small openings cut in the logs 
of which the house was built, covered and fastened ; blan- 
kets were hung around the fire place, so that no light 
might be seen outside, few words were spoken, and those 
in a low tone. There were four guns in the house, and 
two male persons, (Hugh McLellan and his son William) 
■capable of using them. And Mrs. McLellan was not much 
inferior to her husband in strength and courage. When 
ithe McLellans had put their house in the best state for 
defense their means offered, they had a milk-pan full of 
gun-powder, and lead enough, but it was not in balls. 
.Here was work for female hands, and while Mr. Mc- 
Lellan and William lay by the loop holes, each with one 
gun pointed outside and another within reach, Mrs. Mc- 
Lellan was by the fire, behind the screen, with her little 
daughter Abigail, melting lead in an iron skillet, and with an 
iron spoon turning it into a bullet mould, and then making 



INDIANS. 47 

ball cartridges. No one in the house closed their eyes 
that night ! The tedious hours passed on ; the morning 
came ; all was fair and peaceful without, nor could any 
indications of Indians be discovered, and the McLellans 
concluded that the alarm of the dog was caused by some 
wild animal. Mr. McLellan decided to go to his work, and 
finish it that day, and then go immediately into garrison. 
They yoked their oxen, and he and his son went to his field, 
charging Mrs. McLellan to keep the dog at home, to be 
watchful, and on any alarm, to blow the horn. Before they 
left the house, a neighbor, Mr. John Reed, came to borrow 
a chain ; to him they made known their apprehensions. 
Reed said he had seen nothing unusual, and did not think 
the Indians were in the neighborhood ; no signs of them 
had been seen, and he should finish his work before he moved 
into the fort. Reed took the chain, put it on his shoul- 
der and started for home. When he arrived at the brook 
about a quarter of a mile north of Gorham Academy, (now 
called " Tommy's brook) he was suddenly set upon by two» 
powerful Indians, who had secreted themselves in the bush- 
es. Reed was brave and athletic, but was imarmed ; the 
two Indians overpowered him, bound him securely, and 
took him to Canada. After the close of the war, he return- 
ed home. The McLellan fiimily owed their escape to the 
capture of Reed, as the Indians who took him were on their 
way to McLellan's house, but, having taken Reed, and there 
being two men at McLellan's, it would have been hazardous 
to have made an attack then. In their conflict with Bryant, 
the Indians had fired a gun and broken Biyant's arm ; he 
attempted to get to the fort ; he reached the small brook 
southerly of Nathaniel Hamblen's house, the Indians press- 
ing hard upon him ; Bryant discovered, on the top of the 
hill where Hamblen now lives, Mr. Daniel Mosier, with his 
gun on his shoulder, coming towards them ; Bryant called 



48 HISTORY or GORHAM. 

to Mosier to fire on the Indians, but Mosier was a long gun- 
shot off, and did not know the number of Indians there ; 
at that moment the nearest Indian sprang upon Bryant, and 
with rapid blows of the tomahawk, dispatched him before 
Mosier was hardly conscious of what was taking place. He 
returned to the fort and gave the alarm. Mrs. McLellan, 
hearing the gun fired at Bryant, directed her little daughter 
Abigail, about twelve years of age, to go to Mr. Bryant's 
and enquire what the gun was fired for, but the child, being 
afraid, secreted herself. When the mother discovered her 
she again ordered her to go ; the distance was short and she 
soon arrived at the Bryant house. She entered, and the 
sight that presented itself to her astonished eyes paralyzed 
her voice and limbs for the moment. On the floor lay the 
four children in their blood ! They all fell under the toma- 
hawk except the babe. The eldest daughter was alive ; she 
called Abigail by name and asked for water, but Abigail 
was stricken with horror and heeded her not ! instantly she 
was flying home, nor stopped to look around. She reached 
her father's house and fell prostrate at the door. Her mother 
took her up, laid her on a bed, and immediately blew the 
horn for her husband and son to come. Animation revived 
in the o-irl, and she uttered the word "Indians !" and fainted 
again. Mr. McLellan heard the horn and hastily ran home, 
leaving his oxen in the yoke. Abigail, on recovering from 
her swoon, related what she had seen at Bryant's house. 
Mr. McLellan immediately put his house in a position to re- 
sist a sudden attack or to stand a seige. Water was pro- 
cured, windows and doors made close and fast. They knew 
not the extent of the Indians' success, whether all the neigh- 
bors were killed, or taken prisoners ; nor did they feel sure 
of the safety of the fort ; but they determined to resist the 
savages if an attack was made on their house. • It was not 
long before they heard the report of the alarm gun, (a six 



INDIANS. 49 

pounder at the fort) which was to give notice of the pres- 
ence of the enemy in the neighborhood, and to warn all out 
of the fort to watch against surprise. Capt. Phinney and 
the other persons in the fort were apprised that the Indians 
were around them by the report of Mr. Hosier, but they 
knew nothing of their numbers, or the extent of their depre- 
dations beyond the fact that INIr. Bryant was killed ; they 
did not therefoi'e deem it prudent, with their small force, to 
leave the garrison. Bryant's house was but half a mile dis- 
tant from the fort, but as most of the intervening space was 
covered with a thick wood and bushes where the enemy 
might lay in ambush and come upon them by surprise, or 
shoot them from the thickets, they made the entrances to 
the fort secure and kept a careful watch. Thus the day 
passed, and none arriving at the fort, its inmates supposed 
the four families remainino- out were all either killed or taken 
captives. 

" The McLellan family maintained anxious watching all 
that day and the following night. The next day, about 
noon, men were seen coming over what is now called the 
Academy hill, towards McLellan's house. At first sight 
they were supposed to be Indians, but they proved to be a 
scouting party going to the fort ; there were about a dozen 
armed men from Falmouth, (Portland.) The alarm gun 
had been heard, and they were thus notified that Indians 
were about Gorham or Windham. At Saccarappa the 
scouting party divided and part went to Windham. The 
party for Gorham came to McLellan's house, where they 
were joyfully received. McLellan's oxen, still yoked, were 
found in the woods, near by where they had been left the 
morning before ; what furniture they had was quickly load- 
ed on a cart, and, under the protection of the scout, they 
started for the fort. Near Bryant's house they met a party 
from the fort, who had ventured out that day to learn some- 
7 



60 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

thing of the extent of the mischief done by the savages. 
The bodies of Mr. Bryant and his children were carried to 
the fort and buried near by, with due propriety." The 
family of Reed was immediately removed to the garrison, 
where all the occupants remained for nearly seven years ; 
where they were many times greatly distressed for food, and 
scantily supplied with clothing. 

Cloutman's family had removed from the garrison some 
days before the Indian attack. He had gone to his field to 
complete some sowing of his grain ; he was there discov- 
ered by the Indians ; they were very desirous of capturing 
him ; they knew he was the owner of a very good gun, 
which they greatly coveted and had often endeavored to 
obtain. Cloutman was a powerful man, in the full vigor of 
his muscular strength, in the prime of life. The Indians 
thought his capture would be a heavy and discouraging 
blow to the settlers in Gorham. There were eight Indians 
in the party that captured him. Cloutman was alone in his 
field, sowing wheat ; as soon as his back was turned towards 
them, five of the savages ran towards him ; he discovered 
them and ran for Mr. Bryant's house ; coming to the fence, 
where he had a short time before placed brush, in trying to 
leap over the fence he became entangled and fell back ; he 
rose and tried a second time, but did not succeed ; then two 
Indians sprang toward him ; Cloutman knocked them down ; 
a third Indian he put under his feet ; two more savages 
came up with guns leveled at his breast ; Cloutman then 
surrendered. Had it not been for the brush that entan- 
gled him, he would probably have saved himself and the 
Bryant family. As it was he was carried to Canada, and 
was confined with about one hundred other captives, near 
the mouth of the river Sorell. Cloutman was more than 
six feet tall, and weighed 220 pounds. By his neighbors 
he was called the Giant — ^more on account of his strength 



INDIANS. 61 

than his size. After arriving in Canada, he wrote his wife 
a letter, which she received in September following, relating 
the particulars of his capture. He informed her that they 
took him, and Reed, and Mrs. Bryant, Avesterly, down the 
stream near where Mr. Robert Files lately lived, and re- 
mained concealed there all day. At night two Indians 
approached the fort so near they could hear the voices of 
the inmates. About midnight they waded Little River. 
Mrs. Bryant being very feeble, Mr. Cloutman carried her 
on his back over all the streams, and many miles besides, 
where the travelling was bad. The second day they en- 
camped on the banks of Saco River. They followed this 
stream and passed through the notch of the White Moun- 
tains, and thence pi-oceeded northerly to Canada. When 
they arrived there, Cloutman and Reed were confined in a 
large building, under guard, with other captives ; but Mrs. 
Bryant was sold for a domestic in a French family. The 
able-bodied male prisoners were daily taken from the 2)rison 
and compelled to work on the French fortifications. Mr. 
Cloutman and a Mr. Dunbar planned an escape by dig- 
ging out under their prison walls. They had laid by a 
part of their daily allowance of food to eat on their way 
home, and were waiting for a favorable night to break out ; 
but they were betrayed by an Irishman, who was going 
with them. They were more strictly watched till cold 
weather. About the first of November, Cloutman and 
Dunbar escaped, on a stormy night. They were not missed 
for two or three days ; then a large scout of French and 
Indians went in pursuit of them, but did not find them. It 
was supposed they were drowned in attempting to swim 
across a bay of Lake Champlain, as the next spring the 
skeletons of two men were found on the shore of the lake, 
with their clothes tied to the back of their heads, and in one 
garment was found a pocket compass, which was identified 
as one Cloutman had in Canada. 



62 HISTORY OF GOEHAM. 

After ^peace was made, an Indian came to Gorham, and 
called on^Cloutman's widow, and with a beaver skin wanted 
to buy an axe. She would not sell him her axe. He then 
went to Mr. Dennis Larry's house and traded with him. 
The Indian told Mr. Larry, that he was one of the party 
that captured Cloutman, and told how they did it. He 
said, " Strong man Cloutman. He beat two Indians so 
they died before they got to Canada." The Avidow of 
Cloutman afterwards married Mr. Abraham Anderson, of 
Windham, and she died in that town, December 1st, 1802, 
aged 81 years. She was the grandmother of the Hon. 
John Anderson, late of Portland, and Hon. Edward Ander- 
son, of Windham, and Mrs. Ann Waterman, wife of Dr. 
John Waterman, of Gorham. Edward Cloutman left a son 
and a daughter ; the latter died unmarried. His son Timo- 
thy married Katy Partridge. They left a numerous family, 
who were respectable and useful citizens of Gorham, and 
several of his descendants still reside in this town. 

During the Indian war. Col. Edmund Phinney, then a 
young man, was one evening about half a mile easterly from 
the fort, in pursuit of cows ; he was fired upon by a party 
of Indians, laying in ambush, three balls struck Phinney 
and wounded him severely, he succeeded in keeping his gun 
and reaching the fort ; his left arm was broken, and as there 
was no doctor in the fort, the next day two men walked 
through the forest with him to Portland, where the frac- 
tured arm, and his other gun-shot wounds, were attended 
to by Dr. Coffin. 

Some years after the Indian attack in 1716, a young man, 
Bartholomew Thorn, while going home to the fort one day, 
was taken by the Indians, and carried captive to Canada. 
He remained a year or two with the St. Francois tribe, and 
was then sold to a French gentleman at Montreal. Thorn 
was treated kindly by the Frenchman, and was his master's 



INDIANS. 53 

gardener. He did not like this monotonous life, and after 
seven years' absence he returned to Gorham. Previous to 
his being taken captive, he was a noted hunter and trapper ; 
he knew all the streams and lakes in Gorham, Buxton, 
Standish and Windham. Thorn was well known to several 
Indians, who resorted to those towns, and had an intimate 
acquaintance with some of them ; he sometimes hunted with 
them, slept in their wigwams, and shared their food. The 
savages thought him a trespasser on their hunting grounds. 
He would often remain in the forests weeks at a time, subsist- 
ing on game. He was taciturn and cautious ; had a quick 
eye and ear, a sinewy frame, and possessed undaunted cour- 
age. The Indians accused him of not only trespassing on 
their lands, but of robbing their traps. There is a tradition 
that an Indian, on one occasion, went to examine his traps 
near the mouth of Little River in Gorham, and he found the 
leg of a large otter in his trap. On examination he discov- 
ered that the leg had been disjointed by a sharp knife. The 
Indian at once surmised that Thorn had taken his otter. 
After an examination of his trap, and the ground and leaves 
near by, he thought the trespass had not long been commit- 
ted, and that the plunderer could not be far off. With In- 
dian sagacity he discovered and followed the trail ; he had 
not gone far when he discovered a smoke ; as he approached 
he saAv Thorn in the act of cooking some game, and near 
by Avhat he thought was the skin of his otter. The Indian 
showed himself and told Thorn that he had stolen his otter. 
Thorn replied that the otter was his own ; the Indian raised 
his gun. Thorn seized his ; the Indian's gun missed fire ; 
instantly Thorn discharged his, and the next minute the 
Indian lay dead oa the ground. The capture of Thorn was 
the last Indian mischief done in Gorham. After about seven 
years' absence. Thorn returned to this town, but the settlers 
cleared up the land, and this made game scarce. Thorn 



64 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

did not like to have so many neighbors, and in June, 1775, 
he removed to what is now the town of Baldwin, and was the 
first settler of that town, and his son William was the first 
white child born in that place. Thorn for many years tend- 
ed the first grist-mill in Baldwin ; he died in that town about 
1820, being over ninety years of age. He continued to 
hunt, trap, and fish, up to the latter years of his life. 

It is said that one day, during this Indian war, that five 
savages were killed on the Fort Hill road near the brook, 
southerly of Nath'l Hamblen's house ; three of them fell by 
the gun of William McLellan. At another time, when all 
the men were out of the fort, working together, (as was the 
custom for greater safety) an old dog at the fort, by bark- 
ing and frantic gestures, awakened the suspicions of the 
females in the garrison ; they closed the gate, and Mrs. Mc- 
Lellan (the wife of Hugh) ascended to the watch box, and 
carefully scanning the bushes and stumps in the vicinity, 
discovered an Indian behind a bush ; she got a loaded 
musket and watched at the port-hole. Soon the Indian rose' 
cautiously, surveying the foi-t. He stood in full view, Mrs. 
McLellan fired, — her shot took effect. The men hearing 
the report of the gun, came running to the fort to learn the 
cause ; when told, they were incredulous, as they had not 
seen or tracked any Indians ; but Mrs. McLellan insisted 
that she had killed, or desperately wounded an Indian. 
The spot was examined where she said the Indian stood, a 
pool of blood was found, and a trail of blood followed some 
way into the woods. Probably his companions carried the 
wounded Indian away. Mrs. McLellan lived to a great 
age, and always asserted that she killed or severely wounded 
the savage. While this Indian war lasted, the settlers of 
Gorham were constantly harrassed by the savages, though 
eleven soldiers were sent by Massachusetts government for 
their protection. In the winter when their footsteps could 



INDIANS. 55 

be seen In the snow, the Indians avoided the settlements, 
because the rangers or scouts could track and follow them. 
In the spring, summer and autumn, much of the exposed 
property in this town Avas destroyed. Cattle, horses, and 
swine were killed, and their growing crops in their fields 
destroyed or plundered. This war of ambuscade, massacre, 
and conflagration, kept the people in continual terror and 
agitation ; nor did they feel secure till 1759, when Quebec 
capitulated to the army of Wolfe, and France lost her em- 
pire, and with it her influence over the savages in North 
America. 



56 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



CHAPTEE VII. 

PROGKESS OF THE TOWN. 

After the termination of hostilities, and the fear of Indian 
assaults was removed, most of the old settlers returned to 
the places they had left. Many new settlers came, and im- 
provements and buildings went forward. The last repairs 
done to the fort were in 1760, when one shilling and four 
pence per foot was voted to Hugh McLellan for stockading 
the fort, with spruce, pine, or hemlock posts, thirteen feet 
long, and ten inches diameter, with a lining of hewn timber 
six inches thick. During the war, public worship was held 
in the southeast bastion, or flanker of the fort. At a meet- 
ing of the Proprietors, held at the fort, February 26, 1760, 
" Capt. John Waite, Moses Pearson, Esq., and Mr. Wil- 
liam Cotton, were chosen a committee to consider of buildino- 
a meeting house, where to set said house, and how big to 
build it." 

At the same meeting it was voted to raise and assess on 
the several rights of land, £6Q, 13s. 4d., towards building 
a meeting house ; that meeting house was completed in 
1764. In 1763, the first bridge over Presumscot Eiver be- 
tween the towns of Gorham and Windham was erected. 
The inhabitants increased, and in 1761, a movement began 
for the purpose of an incorporation of the town. And at a 
meeting of the Proprietors, held January 20, 1762, there 
was an article in the warrant for calling the meeting, " to 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 57 

choose an Agent to oppose the petition of a number of the 
inhabitants of Gorhamtown, who pray that the lands in 
said town might be incorporated into a town, district or 
parish, vested with powers and privileges as in all like 
cases." The incorporation of the town was strongly op- 
posed by many of the non-resident proprietors, because they 
apprehended their taxes would be much increased if the 
town was organized. 

The inhabitants increased rapidly, and the residents in 
town pressed for an incorporation, and in 1764 the township 
was estimated to contain 340 souls. The town was incorpor- 
ated in 1764, October 24, by the General Court of Massa- 
chusetts. It was the twentieth town incorporated in Maine. 

The first town meeting was held in pursuance of a war- 
rant from the Hon. Stephen Longfellow, at the meeting 
house in Gorham, February 18, 1765 ; at which meeting 
Capt. John Phinney was chosen Moderator, Amos Whitney 
Town Clerk ; Benjamin Skillings, Amos Whitney, and 
Joseph Weston, Selectmen, and Edmund Phinney, Treas- 
urer. Not less than twelve town meetings were held that 
year, viz: on Feb. 18tb, March 12th, March 21st, April 
29th, May 16th, May 30th, Aug. 1st, Aug. 10th, Aug. 
20th, Sept. 2d, Dec. 12th, and Dec. 19th. Roads and 
bridges were needed ; town lines had to be run and settled, 
and various other municipal affairs required attention. The 
town was a local Parish, and religious and moral matters 
claimed and received a large share of the consideration of 
the settlers. The first inhabitants of Gorham were deci- 
dedly a religious people. Springing from the old Puritans 
of Plymouth Colony, when they emigrated they took with 
them the Puritan faith, customs, manners, and religious 
ordinances. It required men like the Puritans to undertake 
and carry through the hazardous enterpi'ise of settling new 
tOAvns amonor savage beasts and savage men. 



58 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Such were the early settlers of Gorliam ; they were a 
hardy, enterprising, courageous, virtuous race of men and 
women, distinguished for fortitude, temperance and open- 
handed hospitality ; and above all, for their piety. They 
were deeply conscious that true religion was essential to 
good government, and the permanent welfare of the commu- 
nity, they spared no pains to support the gospel. 

At the very first meeting of the Proprietors in this town, 
in a poor log house, surrounded by the forest, one of their 
first votes was to provide for preaching and religious instruc- 
tion. Their church system was Congregational ; they were 
all, (or nearly all) orthodox Congregationalists, and were 
zealous for what they considered to be the truth. A stern 
and somewhat severe morality prevailed everywhere among 
the Puritans ; they might at this day have been called intol- 
erant in their religious views and practices, but they were 
in this respect, like other sects of their age. They never 
forgot the great and momentous object for which the Pil- 
grims settled in New England, religious freedom andlihei^ty 
of conscience. 

At that first Proprietors' meeting they voted, " That a 
meeting house be built for the worship of God in said town, 
36 feet long and 26 feet wide, with a 20 feet shed, and fifty 
shillino;s on a rio;ht of land was voted in order to erect said 
house, and to clear a suitable tract of land to set the same 
upon." 

At the next meeting it was voted, "That twenty rods 
square be cleared on the west side of the way called King 
Street, in order for building a meeting house thereon." So 
soon, and so liberally did the first settlers of Gorham make 
provision for religious worship. At that time, (1741) there 
were not more than twelve or fourteen fiimilies in town. In 
1764', the second meeting house was erected. In 1792, it 
was voted, " To enlarge the house thirty feet to the south- 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 69 

ward." In 1797, It was voted, " To dispose of the old meet- 
ing; house and build a new one." In 1798, the Parish 
gave " the Corner School Class the old meeting house, 
provided the said Class would build a school house large 
enouo^h to accommodate the town to do their town busi- 
ness in." 

In June, 1797, the present meeting house of the First 
Parish was erected. At the time of raising the frame, a 
melancholy accident occurred — a part of the frame gave 
way, and two persons — Doct. Nathaniel Bowman and James 
Tryon — were killed. In 1828, this meeting house was en- 
larged and altered ; the old square pews, with seats hung 
with hinges, were removed, and long pews, with fixed seats, 
introduced, and the galleries were taken away. Another 
alteration was made In 1848 ; a new pulpit and new slips, or 
pews, without doors, were constructed — several new pews 
added — windows, with large squares of glass, and aisles and 
slips, completed — a chandelier and a clock were added. 
Previous to this an organ was introduced ; since then gal- 
leries have again been erected. 

Before the incorporation of the town in 1764, preachers 
were hired by the proprietors, aided by the voluntary con- 
tributions of the citizens. 



60 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL. 

The first clergyman employed in Gorliam was a Mr. 
Benjamin Crocker from Cape Cod ; he was hired for six 
months at <£3 10s. per week, and preached here from Febru- 
ary 16th, 1743, to September following, when he was paid 
<£60, old tenor, (45 shillings to the dollar.) Mr. Crocker 
graduated at Harvard Colleo;e in 1713. 

The correspondence with Mr. Crocker was by a commit- 
tee ; their letter to him was as follows : — 

" For the Rev. Benjamin Crocker at Ipswitch, per Capt. 
Phinney : 

GoRHAMTOWN, SO Called, Feb. 16, 1742-3. 
Mr. Crocker, Sir : — We, the subscribers. Being this day 
at a Proprietors' meeting. Chosen to get a minister to 
Preatch to the Inhabitants for five or six months to Come, 
and AYe are informed by Mr. Jno. Phinney that you signi- 
fied to him you wold come and Preatch if We Desired It : 
And these are to Desier you to come and Preach there the 
time above mentioned or Less time or as may sute your 
conveniency, and We shall Readily pay you Reasonable 
Demands, and must refer you to Mr. Jno. Phinney for partic- 
ulars by Wliome this comes, With expectation of your com- 
plyance, we remain your humble Servants, 

MOSES PEARSON, 
WM. POTE, 
^YM. COTTON, 
BENJA. SKILLINGS, 
JNO. GORHAM. 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 61 

We, the subscribers, Engage to pay the sum of three 
pounds, ten shillings, Old Tenor, for what time you may 
preatch to the above Inhabitants, that is, so much per Sab- 
bath as Sixty pounds will satisfy, there being so much voted 
for that use. 

MOSES PEARSON, 
WM. POTE, 
AVM. COTTON, 
JNO. GORHAM, 
BENJA. SKILLINGS." 

Then follows Mr. Crocker's account, thus : 

" An account of what I received for preaching at Gor- 
hamtown. 



Of Mr. Cotton, _ - - 

OfMr. Pote, 

Of Mr. Cobb, for Phinney, 

Of Mr. Pearson, - - - 

Of Mr. Jno. Eager, - 

Of Mr. Benja. Skilhns, 

Of Mr. Benja. Stevens, - 

Of .Mr. McAUen, (IMcLellan?) 

Of Mr. Jeremiah Hodgdon, 

Of Capt. Gorham, 

Of Mr. Pote, for boarding. 

Of Mr. Cotton, - 

Of Mr. Cotton, 



Of Mr. Pearson, - 



£ 


s. 


D. 


11 


10 


00 


2 


GO 


00 


- 1 


00 


00 


5 


00 


00 


- 


10 


00 


3 


10 


00 


- 3 


10 


00 


3 


10 


00 


- 


10 


00 




10 


00 


- 9 


00 


00 


10 


00 


00 


- 5 


10 


00 


X56 


00 


00 


4 


00 


00 


MO 


00 


00 



62 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Falmouth, Sept. 19, 1743. 
Received of the Committee of Gorhamtown, sixty pounds 
old tenor, which is in full for preaching at Gorhamtown — 
I say received per me. 

BENJA. CROCKER. 



ME. LOMBAKD. 

In September, 3.750, the proprietors of this town voted to 
give Mr. Solomon Lombard a call to settle here in the 
work of the gospel ministry ; his salary was to be X53 6s. 
8d. annually, and to receive the lots of land reserved for 
the first settled minister, and the use of the parsonage land 
during his ministry. Lot No. 57, first Division, being a 30 
acre lot, now a part of the old Phinney farm, on Fort Hill, 
where the family of George Hunt now live, was confirmed 
to him and his heirs for one of the minister lots. Mr. Lom- 
bard was a native of Truro, Cape Cod, and graduated at 
Harvard College in 1723. He was ordained at Gorham, 
Dec. 26, 1750 ; the first settled minister of Portland, Rev. 
Thomas Smith, preached the ordination sermon ; one dollar 
on each right of land in Gorham was assessed (f 120) to 
defray the expenses of the ordination ; the accounts of these 
expenses are curious, as showing what articles were deemed 
necessary for an ordination dinner, the value of such articles, 
and the price of services. Some of these are as follows : 

£ s. D. 

1 Barrel of Flour, - - - 14 07 06 
3 Bushels of Apples, - - - 2 08 00 

2 Barrels of Cider, - - - 9 00 00 
2 Gallons of Brandy, - - - 5 00 00 



£ 


S. I). 




05 00 


8 


14 00 


1 


10 00 


5 


04 00 


2 


00 00 




10 00 




02 00 



ECCLESIABTICAL. C3 



1 Bottle of Yinegar, - _ - 
29 Pounds of Sugar, 

1 Tea Pot, ----- 
4 Gallons of Rum, - - - - 

2 Bushels of Cranberries, 
1 Pound of Tea, _ - - - 
1 " of Ginger, - _ - 

Two Cheeses, 6d. per lb ; 54 1-2 lbs. of Pork, 7d. per lb. ; 
6 Candles, Is. ; 1 oz. of Nutmegs, 12d. ; 6 gallons of Mo- 
lasses, 23s. 8d. per gallon ; 3 Geese, 3 l-2d. per lb. ; 4 oz. 
Pepper, 6d. ; 8 Fowls, 36s. ; 1-2 bushel Onions, and 1-2 
bushels of Potatoes. 

Two bushels of cranberries to half a bushel of potatoes, 
would at this day seem disproportionate, and the brandy, 
rum, and cider, would hardly be expected at an ordination 
dinner. The committee to furnish supplies were Enoch 
Freeman, Samuel Moody and James Milk. Most of the 
articles were purchased of Enoch Freeman. 'One person 
was paid for eight days work getting up the stores, for 
which he was paid XIO for himself, and <£4 for horse labor. 

John Irish was paid " <£1 5s. for bringing in the cow, and 
10s. for killing the cow ;" the horse keeping, for 19 days 
and nights, was <£9 10s. OOd. Ten days work of women, 
cooking, £5 00s. OOd. 

The Proprietors and inhabitants of the town were very 
well united in desiring the settlement of Mr. Lombard, but 
this unanimity did not long continue ; he and his parishion- 
ers did not get along harmoniously. In March, 1757, twen- 
ty-one of his hearers addressed a letter to the Proprietors, 
requesting that Mr. Lombard might be dismissed ; in it they 
say, " Our Eev. Pastor's conduct in the discipline of his 
church, hath had such an evil tendency it hath weaned our 
affections from him, and in a great measure spoilt his use- 



b^ HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

fulness towards us." They also complain of his setting 
neighbors at variance with each other, and of neglecting 
ministerial duties to engage In secular business for his own 
benefit. In the warrant for a Proprietors' meeting, March 
11th, 1767, one of the articles was " to enquire into the 
grounds of the difference betwixt the Rev. Mr, Lombard and 
the inhabitants of this town." A Council was called to en- 
deavor to adjust the difficulties ; for years, however, these 
difficulties remained unadjusted. Terms of separation were 
finally agreed upon, and Mr. Lombard was dismissed in 
1764. During Mr. Lombard's ministry there was a schism 
in the church, and a Mr. Townsend preached here to one 
section of the people, and from that party received a call to 
settle. A Council of ministers was convened, but they re- 
fused to ordain Mr. Townsend ; whereupon the part of the 
church favorable to Mr. T., proceeded to ordain him ac- 
cording to the Cambridge Platform. Parson Smith in his 
journal, under date of April 1, 1759, says, " Mr. Townsend 
was ordaine(^ at Gorham ; Capt. Phinney prayed before the 
charge, and Capt. Morton gave it, and Townsend did all 
the rest." Li a memoir of the Honorable Jeremiah Grid- 
ley, who was at that period Attorney General of Massachu- 
setts, I find the following Incident related : — 

" About the year 1760, a Mr. Lombard, the settled min- 
ister of the Gospel in Gorham, upon some uneasiness which 
arose between him and the people of his charge, had a dif- 
ficulty they could not settle ; they mutually agreed to dis- 
solve the connexion, and the parsonage being valuable, and 
under culture, he was to have its Improvement until they 
should settle another minister, and Lombard, Avho was a 
gentleman of education, gave a bond in the penal sum of 
two or three thousand pounds to Morton and Phinney, two 
of the Elders, or Deacons, that upon their settling another 
minister he would deliver up the parsonage. In the space 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 65 

of a year or two, an illiterate man (Townsend) received a 
call to settle Avitli them and become their minister. None of 
the neiMiborlno; ministers or churches would assist in his or- 
daination, and thereupon the church proceeded to ordain him 
in the Congregational way, by the imposition of the hands 
of Morton and Phinney. Afterwards, a suit was brought 
upon the bond of Lombard at the Court of Common Pleas ; 
the case was argued largely by counsel, and Mr. Lombard 
added something to what his counsel had said, to show that 
the man inducted to office was not the minister meant and 
intended by the bond. The verdict was against Mr. Lom- 
bard ; he appealed to the Supreme Court, then held at 
York, and employed Mr. Gridley for his counsel ; Mr. Grid- 
ley introduced a plea, reciting the grant of the township, 
with the reservation of a parsonage for the use of a pious, 
learned and orthodox minister, and averred that the town 
had not settled such a minister. The counsel for plaintiffs 
replied, that they had settled another pious, orthodox min- 
ister, omitting the word learned. The answer was adjudged 
insufficient, and judgment was rendered in favor of Lom- 
bard." 

"Whether Mr. Townsend preached longer I cannot learn. 
He died at Gorham, Sept. 22d, 1762, Mr. Lombard was 
dismissed in 1764. He afterwards became an Episcopalian, 
and united with a church of that order, and died at Gor- 
ham in 1781, leaving numerous descendants, many of whom 
noAV live in Gorham. 

After Mr. Lombard ceased preaching in Gorham, he was 
soon engaged in public business, and seems to have been a 
very popular man. He was commissioned a Justice of the 
Peace ; he was largely employed by the Proprietors of the 
town, and in County business, acting on important commit- 
tees, surveying and locating lands, and was frequently ap- 
pointed a referee in difficult cases. He was the first Eep- 
9 



66 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

resentative of Gorham in the General Court of Massachu- 
setts, having been elected in 1765, the next year after he 
was dismissed from his pastoral charge ; he was seven years 
a Representative in the Legislature, twice a Delegate to the 
Provincial Congress, a Delegate to form the Constitution of 
Massachusetts, Chairman of the Committee of Safety and 
Vigilance in the early days of the Revolution, afterwards 
a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Cumberland 
County, from 1776 to 1781, when he died. Mr. Lombard 
was an active, industrious, useful man, a gentleman of learn- 
ing, talents, and sound sense. 

A Mr. Peltiah Tingley preached in Gorham in 1765-6. 
He was invited to settle as a pastor, but declined the call. 
Mr. Tingley subsequently became a Free Will Baptist, and 
settled in Waterborough, and lived to an advanced age. Li 
1765, £66, 13s. 4d. was voted for the support of the gos- 
pel in Gorham, and several town meetings were held for the 
purpose of devising ways to obtain continuous preaching in 
the town. 



MR. THACHER. 

Mr. Lombard was succeeded, as the pastor of the Con- 
gregational Parish, by the Rev. Josiah Thacher. Mr. 
Thacher was a native of Lebanon, Connecticut. He was a 
graduate of Princeton College, New Jersey. He preached 
in Gorham, as a candidate twenty-four Sabbaths, and was 
ordained here, October 28, 1767. He was to have £100 
lawful money as a settlement, and .£80 per year while 
he remained pastor of the Parish. The Parish and church 
were nearly unanimous in their votes to settle Mr. Thacher 
on these terms. 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 67 

Difficulties between Mr. Thacher and his parishioners 
soon arose. Many became much opposed to him, and some 
disreputable scenes occurred ; these conflicts exerted an un- 
favorable influence on religion in the town, and led to many 
uncharitable words and deeds. A new religious society, 
called Baptists, (resembling the Free Will Baptists, but not 
identical with that sect,) was formed in town. Also a so- 
ciety of Friends, and a society of Shakers. Many people 
would not pay the ministerial tax for Mr. Thacher's sup- 
port, and suits were commenced to coerce payment. These 
proceedings exceedingly irritated Mr. Thacher's opponents. 
On some occasions he Avas forcibly prevented from entering 
the meeting house to preach. Many town meetings were 
held on this subject. At one of which it was voted, " That 
Mr. Thacher should no more hold forth or carry on in the 
pulpit." 

At a meeting held Nov. 29th, 1780, Mr. Amos Whitney, 
Nathan Whitney, George Hanscom, Samuel Crockett, and 
Prince Davis, were chosen " a Committee to wait on Mr. 
Thacher and forbid his preaching any more in the meeting 
house or any Avhere else in Gorham, under the pretence of 
being the town's minister, " as both church and town have 
long since rejected him as their minister." At the same 
meetino; it was voted, " That if Mr. Thacher disreg-ard the 
warning from said Committee, and will continue to preach 
and hold forth in the meeting house as minister, then in that 
case, said Committee shall shut up the meeting house." 
Mr. Thacher gave no heed to the warnino; of the Commit- 
tee, but continued to preach. The Committee fastened up 
the meeting house. Mr. Thacher and his friends, the next 
Sabbath, by the aid of ladders, entered the meeting house, 
and held the usual services. The Committee then sought 
legal advice, and were told that they themselves were tres- 
passers and were liable to prosecution. His opponents then 



68 HISTORY or GORIIAM. 

tried to persuade Mr. Thacher to resign. At a town meet- 
ing held in February, 1781, Prince Davis, Capt. Samuel 
Whitmore and Mr. Samuel Harding, were chosen a Com- 
mittee to make proposals to Mr. Thacher, and settle the 
conditions on w^hlch his pastoral relations might be dis- 
solved. This Committee went about their business, treated 
Mr. Thacher In a gentlemanly way, and were met in the same 
spirit. Their meetings were numerous, and the whole mat- 
ter thoroughly discussed and weighed. The result was that 
the town should pay Mr. Thacher X307, or secure the pay- 
ment at a given time, and when that should be done, he 
agreed to ask and receive a dismissal ; and he was dismissed 
in April, 1781. Like his predecessor, Mr. Lombard, he 
was employed almost immediately in political life, and laid 
aside the title of Reverend for that of Honorable ; he did 
a large business as a Justice of the Peace ; was a Repre- 
sentative from the town of Gorham to the General Court 
eleven years, then Senator from Cumberland County, and a 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1781 to 1799, 
the year he died. His death occurred Dec. 25, of that 
year. j\Ir. Thacher was a descendant of Anthony Thacher, 
who was among the early emigrants to New England. 



CALEB JEWETT, 



Rev. Caleb Jcwett was the next Congregational minister 
settled in Gorham. He was a native of Newburyport, 
Mass. ; he graduated at Dartmouth College in 1776. At a 
town meeting, (the whole town being a territorial Parish) 
held August lo, 1781, it was voted, " That Austin Aldcn 
go to Newbury Port and request Mr. Caleb Jewett to preach 
in this town three months." And Oct. 15, 1781, " Voted 



ECCLESIASTICAL. G9 

unanimously to improve either Mr. Caleb Jewett, or Mr. 
Joseph Littlefield as a candidate for pastor ;" and then 
voted, " That jMr. Austin Alden wait on Mr. Jewett, and 
invite him to preach six months." At a town meeting held 
January 28, 1782, it was "Voted unanimously (except one) 
to concur with the church in requesting Mr. Caleb Jewett 
to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in this town." 
And at the same time the town " Voted to pay Mr. Jewett 
one hundred pounds salary, so long as he continue in the 
ministry in this town." At the same time " Voted one hun- 
dred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence 
settlement for Mr. Jewett." This attempt to settle Mr. 
Jewett failed. New negotiations were set on foot Avith Mr. 
Jewett the next year, (1783.) The town voted in addition 
to the sums before voted, to give Mr. Jewett twenty-four 
cords of wood annually, to be cut and delivered at his door, 
and to fence the Parsonage lots (a thirty acre lot, and one 
hundred acre lot) for Mr. Jewett's use." Mr. Jewett ac- 
cepted the call on these conditions, and was ordained pastor 
of the Congregational Society, Nov. 5, 1783. 

Like his predecessor, Mr. Jewett had many difficulties 
with his church and parish. After a long negotiation about 
the terms of his dismission, his final separation from his 
people took place Sept., 1800. He resigned his connection 
on the condition of the town's paying him a certam sum of 
money, and exempting his property from taxation for a spe- 
cified number of years. When the town passed these votes, 
and they were sent to Mr. Jewett, he sent a written reply 
to the town meeting, saying, — 

" I accept your conditions and resign my ministerial of- 
fice, and consider it my jubilee. Midtum Guadio ! Gua- 
dio Multum ! So I subscribe myself as one worn out in 
the service of God, and yours. CALEB JEWETT." 

Mr. Jewett died in Gorham, April IG, 1802. 



70 HISTOKY OF GORHAM. 

JEKEMI AH NO YES. 

The next Cono;reo;ational minister settled in Gorham was 
Eev. Jeremiah Noyes ; he was a native of Newburyport, 
and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1799, and was or- 
dained at Gorham, Nov. 16, 1803. One condition of Mr. 
Noyes' settlement was, that he should take a dismission 
whenever two-thirds of the legal voters of the Parish, at a 
legal meeting had for that purpose, should request it ; six 
months notice to be given. During Mr. Noyes' ministry he 
lived on amicable terms with his people ; there seems to 
have been no fault found from any quarter, and he died, 
very much regretted, January 15, 1807, aged 28 years. 



ASA K A N D . 

Rev. Asa Rand succeeded Mr. Noyes as minister of this 
Parish. He was born at Rindge, N. H. ; graduated at Dart- 
mouth College in 1806, and was ordained at Gorham, Janu- 
ary 18, 1809. He was to receive $680 per year for four 
years, and afterwards $600 annually. Mr. Rand was a 
sedate, industrious man, a hard student, a strong, lucid 
writer, and a solemn preacher. He was strenuously ortho- 
dox in principle, uniform and inflexible in maintaining those 
views which he deemed right, but never impetuous or rash ; 
lie was a gentleman of learning and ability. In consequence 
of bodily infirmity, he asked a release from his charge, and 
was dismissed, by an ecclesiastical council, June 12, 1822. 
During Mr. Rand's pastorate, 73 females and 21 males were 
added to the church. After Mr. Rand's dismissal he edited 
the Christian Mirror, then the Boston Recorder, afterwards 
the Lowell Observer — subsequently he resided many years 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 71 

in Western Xew York, and now (1862) lives again in New 
Enirlancl. 



THADDEUS POMEKOY. 

On the same day that Mr. Rand was dismissed, and by 
the same Council, Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy was installed as 
Pastor over the Congregational Church and Parish in Gor- 
ham. Mr. Pomeroy Avas a native of South Hampton, Mass., 
graduated at Williams College, and studied theology at 
Andover. He was first settled in the ministry at Randolph, 
Mass., some years before he came to Gorham. He was a 
man of exemplary diligence ; often out of health, but ever 
industrious. While he was pastor here, a large number were 
added to the church ; 72 in 1831. Mr. Pomeroy did much 
to promote education, and was indefiitigable in his efforts to 
establish and endow the Female Seminary in this town. 
Mr. Pomeroy was dismissed Nov. 24, 1839. He removed 
to Pompey, in Western New York, and afterwards re- 
moved to De Witt, near Syracuse, and engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. He died there April 14, 1858, aged 76 years. 



JOHN S. DAVENPOET. 

Was the eighth settled minister of the First Parish in 
this town ; he came from New York, and was a merchant 
before he preached. He was installed at Gorham July 16, 
1840, and was dismissed, on his own request, July 16, 1842. 
Mr. Davenport came to the belief that the Apostolical form 
of church government was Episcopal, and that no person 



72 HISTORY OF GOEHAM. 

coiilJ be properly ordained except by a Bishop ; hence he 
felt that it was wrono; to be a Cono-reo-ational pastor when 
in fact lie was an Episcopalian. Soon after his dismission 
from Gorham, he was ordained by a Bishop and preached in 
Newburyport. Afterwards he was settled in Ogdensburg, 
N. Y. ; being again dismissed, he returned to New York 
and again engaged in mercantile pursuits. 



AARON C. ADAMS. 

Eev. Aaron C. Adams succeeded Mr. Davenport as pastor 
over the First Parish here. He was from Bangor, Me., and 
graduated at Bowdoin College in 1836. He was ordained 
at Gorham, Oct. 5, 1842, and was dismissed in November, 
1845. Ill health was the cause of his resigning his pastoral 
relation. Mr. Adams was afterwards settled at West Bloom- 
field in New Jersey. Subsequently he was settled at Man- 
chester, New Hampshire, and, being dismissed from there, 
he is asain living in Maine. 



JOHN R. ADAMS. 

The tenth Congregational clergyman in this Parish was 
Rev. John R. Adams, a native of Andover, Mass. ; he grad- 
uated at Yale College in 1821 ; studied Theology at Divinity 
College, Andover, Mass. He was settled firstly at London- 
derry, N. H. ; then at Brighton, Mass., and thirdly in this 
town ; he was installed in Gorham, June 4, 1847, and his 
pastoral relation to this people was dissolved Dec. 1, 1858. 
Mr. Adams is now (1862) serving as Chaplain to the Fifth 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 73 

Regiment of Maine Volunteers in the Federal army on the 
Potomac. 



STEPHEN C. STRONG. 

Is the eleventli and present Congregational minister of 
the First Parish in this town ; he is a native of North Hamp- 
ton, Mass., a grandson of Gov. Caleb Strong. Mr. Strong- 
graduated at Williams College in 1845 ; he studied Theolo- 
gy in the Union Theological Seminary in Xew York City. 
He was first settled at South Hampton, Mass., and being 
dismissed from his parochial charge there, he was installed 
at Gorham February 15, 1860. 



The following is a list of Congregational clergymen, who 
have been settled in Gorham, with the dates of their settle- 
ment and dismission or death. 

1. Solomon Lombard, ordained December 26, 1750, dis- 
missed August 15, 1764. 

2. Josiali Timelier, ordained October 28, 1767, dismissed 
April 28, 1781. 

3. Caleb Jewett, ordained November 5, 1783, dismissed 
Sept. 8, 1800. 

4. Jeremiah Noyes, ordained November 16, 1803, died 
January 15, 1807. 

5. Asa Rand, ordained January 18, 1809, dismissed June 
12, 1822. 

6. Thaddeus Pomeroy, installed June 12, 1822, dismissed 
November 24, 1830. 

10 



74 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

7. Jolin L. Davenport, Installed July 16, 1840, dismissed 
July 16, 1842. 

8. Aaron C. Adams, ordained October 5, 1842, dismissed 
November 4, 1845. 

9. John E. Adams, installed June 4, 1847, dismissed De- 
cember 1, 1858. 

10. Stephen C. Strong, installed February 15, 1860. 
April 4, 1759, Mr. Ebenezer Townsend, ordained by one 

division of the church ; Mr. Townsend died in Gorham in 
1762. 

For a few years after the organization of the Congrega- 
tional church in this town, they had Ruling Elders ; they 
were Edmund Phlnney, Hugh McLellan, and Joseph Gates. 
The following persons have been the Deacons : Stephen 
Phinney, Eliphalet Watson, James McLellan, Austen Al- 
den, George Lewis, Thomas Cross, Samuel Paine, James 
McLellan, 2d, Thos. S. Eoble, Nahum Chadbourne, Enoch 
Cross, Marshal Irish, Edward P. Weston, Nathaniel Brown, 
Horatio H. Merrill, Edward Robie, and Thomas Jameson. 

The brick Vestry, or Conference House of the First Par- 
ish, Avas built in 1826, principally by a liberal donation of 
$500 from Deacon Thomas S. Robie. 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 75 



CHAPTER IX. 

BAPTISTS. 

The Baptists (Free Will) first came into notice iu this 
town during the pastorate of Rev. Josiah Thaclier over the 
Congregational church. These Baptists were by other peo- 
ple then called JS^eio Lirjlits. They had many preachers — 
no one officiating long in Gorham. They were very earnest 
men. A number of these, calling themselves Baptists, in 
1780-1, afterwards became Shakers, some Friends, and some 
Methodists. Samuel Brown, John and William Cotton, 
James McCollister (McCorison,) Amos and Lemuel Rich, 
Jacob II. Clements, some of the Freemans, were among the 
earliest and most active members of the Baptist Society in 
its early days in Gorham. Many became disaffected to 
"the Standing Order," as the Congregationallsts were then 
called, and protested against paying Parish taxes, and prob- 
ably some nominally joined the New Lights for the sole 
purpose of evading taxation ; the larger part were undoubt- 
edly conscientiously opposed to Congregational doctrines and 
polity. The enthusiastic New Light chose to preach for 
himself. He talked much against ministers being qualified 
to preach by book learning, and disdained the idea of study- 
ing for the ministry, contending that God would choose 
and qualify his own preachers. Their numbers in Gorham 
increased rapidly ; they held meetings, and leaders soon 
showed themselves. Thev became much excited ; every one, 



76 IIISTOIIY OF GORHAM. 

who cliose, became a public speaker, to exhort men and ex- 
pound tlie Scriptures. They publicly denounced the paid 
clergy. Their speakers were often vociferous, their meet- 
ings sometimes disorderly ; their converts freuqently violent 
in their gesticulations ; whirling around and swooning were 
not unusual in their meetings. They were decided in their 
opposition to finery or ornament in dress and fashionable 
amusements. Like most sects in their early days, they had 
their eccentricities ; but they were sincere and devout, and 
time and " the sober second thought" moulded them into 
an orderly and respectable religious society ; and so they 
have remained. 

The fir*t Free Will Baptist church in this town was or- 
ganized, and their first meeting house built at Fort Hill, 
where they still have a house for worship. This denomina- 
tion has two other houses for public worship in town, one 
at Little Falls village and one at White Rock neighborhood. 
They have had many clergymen to preach ; and quite a 
number of Free Will Baptist ministers have been natives of 
Gorham. Among the most prominent was Rev. Clement 
Phinney, a grandson of Col. E. Phinney. Elder Benjamin 
Randall, the father of the denomination in this country, oc- 
casionally preached here ; so did Elder Weeks, Elder Jo- 
seph AVhite, Elder John Buzzell, and others. 

They tried year after year to induce the town to exempt 
them from paying ministerial taxes ; they became so numer- 
ous and powerful that the town at length listened to their 
petitions. And .at a legal town meeting, held on the 14th 
day of June, 1781, the following vote was passed : " Voted, 
All the inhabitants of Gorham, who are of a diflferent de- 
nomination to the Congregational, are to be excluded pay- 
ing any future charges towards supplying the Desk in Gor- 
ham Meeting house, oahj upon bringing a certificate from 
the heads of either of the op[)osite societies, in Gorham, 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 



77 



called Baptists, in two months from this date." Within the 
prescribed time, and on the town book is this record : " The 
following is a list of the persons in Gorham, who call them- 
selves Baptists, according to their own return, given in to 
the Selectmen, agreeable to a vote passed the 14th of June, 
1781." 

"To the Selectmen of Gorham — Gents: — These may 
certify, that the persons, whose names are in the following- 
List, are in our opinion, cleared from paying to ye support of 
ye Congregational jMinistry in the town, both by law, and 
agreeable to a vote of the town passed sometime in June 
last, they attending our meeting, and desiring their names 
to be entered in the certificate to yourselves." 

Daniel Ilebard, Pastor, William Cotton, 



Andrew Crockett^ 
Elisha Strout, 
Capt. Briant Morton, 
Andrew Cobb, 
Nicholas Cobb, 
Jedediah Cobb, 
Andrew Cobb, Jr., 
Daniel Cobb, 
Nath'l Edwards, 
Ephraim Hunt, 
Peletiah Crocket, 
Moses Hanscom, 
Samuel Crocket, Jr., 
James Bangs, 
Jno. Foy, 
Jona. Freeman, 
Cary INIcLellan, 
Nathan Freeman, 



Natli'l Freeman, 
Eben'r Morton, 
Samuel Thomes, 
Samuel Brown, 
Joshua Harding, 
Ebenezer Hamblen, 
Barnabas Rich, 
Lemuel Rich, 
Josiah Whitney, 
Samuel Harding, Jr., 
Gershom Hamblen, 
Nathaniel Muckford, 
Aaron Whitney, 
William Mouson, 
Ezekiel Rich, 
Natli'l Stevens, 
Joseph Whitney, 
Jereli. Hodsdon, 



Elders of the Eastern IJiiptiNL Church in Gorham. 



78 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

George Hamblen, Isaac Elder, 

Caleb Lombard, John Cursley, 

Capt. Hart Williams, Decker Phinncy, 

Daniel Gammon, Stephen Swett, 

James Gilkey, Joseph Stone, 

William Lakeman, Joel Sawyer, 

Jona. Crocket, Calvin Lombard, 

Jabez Morton, Barnabas Bangs, 

James McCorison, Thomas Bangs, 

Joel Rich, Lemuel Hicks, 

William Files, John Silla, 

Samuel Elder, Joseph Brackett, 

William Marks, Benja. Stevens, 
EH Webb. 

These persons were exempted from payment of ministerial 
taxes for a few years, but others, who it was said did not 
set certificates or who did not hand them to the Selectmen 
seasonably, were still assessed, and the matter was again 
brought into the town meetino-s ; and an article was in a 
warrant for a town meeting in 1787, " To see what method 
the town will take with sundry persons that think them- 
selves aggrieved in paying ministerial taxes, and wdiether 
they will excuse a whole or a part of them?" The town 
chose Edmund Phinney, Esq., Austen Alden, George Lewis, 
James Phinney, and Nathaniel Frost, to report on that mat- 
ter at an adjourned meeting. This Committee held several 
meetings and finally made the following Report : — 

" We, the subscribers, beg leave to rej)ort to the town as 
follows, viz. : We have met a committee of those called the 
Anabaptist Society in Gorham, and heard all they had to 
offer, Patiently and Candidly, and are of opinion that if any 
person in Gorham of that Society, or of any different denom- 
ination from the Congregational, who is a public Protestant 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 79 

teaclier of Piety, Religion, and Morality, agreeable to the 
Constitution, should produce a certificate, or List, to the 
Town, of any number of persons, (Inhabitants of Gorliam ?) 
who are, in his opinion, conscientiously of his Society, and 
do constantly attend upon instruction, that in that case we 
would recommend to the town to exempt all those persons 
from paying to any Congregational minister in said Gorham." 
The town passed a vote in accordance with this Report, but 
it Avas too strict for those who wished to use a Baptist name 
merely to avoid paying a ministerial tax. The officiating 
Baptist clergyman or teacher would not certify that those 
persons, who only occasionally attended their ministrations 
and in their daily life did not exhibit any decided religious 
opinions, or lead virtuous lives, were " conscientiously of 
their Society.''^ 

In a town meeting called in November, 1788, there was 
an article in the warrant " To see if the town will exempt 
ai|y person or number of persons in Gorham, (being of the 
Baptist Denomination) from paying taxes to a Congrega- 
ational minister in Gorham." And another article was " To 
see if the town will vote that Mr. James McAllister shall be 
discharged from paying any State, County, or Town taxes 
in Gorham, on account of his being a Baptist minister." 

The Town would not consider these requests, but dis- 
missed both articles. 

In 1789, there was an article in a warrant for a Town 
meeting, " To see if the Town will vote that the Baptist 
Society be set off by themselves, in order that they may be 
incorporated into a separate Parish." 

The Town meeting dismissed that article. 

In February 1790, a Petition, signed by George Thomes 
and about 60 other male citizens of Gorham, was presented 
to the General Court, praying to be Incorporated into a sep- 
arate Parish, stating that they had erected a house for pub- 



80 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

He worship, and had a public Teacher, and had assembled 
and steadily kept up public worship for seven years, and did 
not and could not conscientiously attend upon the instruc- 
tions of the Congregational minister ; yet the Town of Gor- 
ham assessed them, and distrained their property to supjDort 
the Congregational worship. 

Notice was ordered on this petition, returnable at the 
next General Court. To this petition the Town made no 
objection, and the petitioners and their associates were made 
a separate Parish. The following named persons have been 
Free Will Baptist preachers in Gorham : — Daniel Hebard, 
James McCollister, Samuel Hutchinson, Clement Phinney, 
Andrew Rollins, James M. Buzzell, and some others. 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 81 



CHAPTER X . 

METHODISTS. 

This now large and respectable denomination of Chris- 
tians, was unknown in Gorhara, till somewhere between 
1790 and 1800. Rev. Jesse Lee is believed to have been 
the first Methodist preacher that came into this part of the 
State ; he passed through Gorham, aud called on Rev. Sam- 
uel Thomes, a Free Will Baptist Elder. Mr. Thomes in- 
vited him to preach at the Fort Hill meeting house ; Mr. 
Lee consented, and preached there a few times ; but Mr. 
Thomes not agreeing with Mr. Lee with respect to church 
government, thought best not to have Mr. Lee preach in his 
church any more. This was prior to 1800. Mr. Timothy 
Merritt, Asa Heath, and Rev. Mr. Hubbard, were early 
preachers of Methodism in this town. Rev. Joshua Taylor 
preached here as early as 1803. There was an article in 
the warrant for a Parish meeting held in September, 1801, 
" To see if the Parish will direct the Assessors to abate the 
Parish taxes of those persons who have obtained certificates 
from a Methodist Preacher." The Parish voted to dismiss 
the article. At a Parish meeting held in April, 1803, It was 
voted, " That when the Methodists produce a certificate to 
the Parish Assessors, agreeably to law, they may omit tax- 
ing such persons." Mr. James Lewis, a man highly respec- 
table in abilities, character, and connexions, and of a good 
property, about this time became a convert to the Methodist 
11 



82 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

doctrines and principles, and was admitted to the Methodist 
church, by Rev. Asa Heath. Mr. Lewis soon became a 
preacher, and through a long life, was an earnest, zealous, 
persevering minister of the Methodist persuasion, and prob- 
ably did more than any other person to increase and estab- 
lish Methodism in Gorham and the vicinity. He itiner- 
ated extensively in this and adjoining counties, and was in- 
strumental in turning many from profanity, dissipation, and 
other vices ; his great fluency of speech, powerfid voice, 
and evident sincerity, gathered him large audiences, and his 
kind, social qualities, made him acceptable wherever he went. 
I am not aware that he Avas ever strictly a circuit preacher, 
or had a pastoral charge over any local church. Mr. Lewis 
was an ardent friend of temperance, and labored much and 
successflilly to promote the cause ; he was highly respected 
by all religious societies. He closed his active and useful 
life in Gorham, Aug. 20, 1855, at the age of 85 years. 

The first Methodist Class formed in Gorham was in the 
neighborhood of the north meeting house ; Ebenezer Lom- 
bard, afterwards a preacher, was the first class leader in 
town ; he was appointed by the Rev. Timothy Merritt. The 
Methodists have now two meeting houses, and two large 
societies in Gorham. 

It was not the polity of this denomination to have their 
clergymen preach to the same parish or society longer than 
two or three years successively, hence there have been a 
large number of Methodist ministers stationed in this town. 
Between 1803 and 1833, Alfred Metcalf, Joel Wicker, Philip 
Munger, David Stinson, Samuel Thompson, Caleb Fogg, 
Samuel Hillman, Enoch Jaques, Joel Winch, Eben'r Blake, 
Benj. Bishop, Philip Ayer, Daniel Filmore, John Paine, 
John Lindsey, John Adams, John AVilkinson, James Jaques, 
Isaac Ames, Joshua Randall, John Lewis, Peter Burges, 
Gilman Moody, Job Pratt, Melville B. Cox, John Shaw, 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 



Phlnelias Crandell, R. E. Schermerhorn, Aaron Sanderson, 
Justin Spaulding, and Daniel Fuller ; and there has been a 
stated supply of Methodist preachers since. 



FRIENDS OR QUAKERS. 

At the commencement of this century, there was a small 
but respectable society of Friends in Gorham ; among whom 
were Wm. Burton, Jedediah Cobb, William Cobb, Charles 
Bangs, James Bangs, Stephen Harris, Decker Phinney, 
John Horton, and Robert Estes, as prominent men. They 
had a small meeting house, and kept up public worship. 
The society has diminished, and but few of the denomina- 
tion remain in tOAvn. 



SHAKERS. 

This denomination were never numerovis in Maine. Sixty 
years ago they had a small society in Gorham. Somewhere 
about 1780, a man and woman of this persuasion, came from 
New Hampshire to this towTi and held meetings ; many went 
to hear their novel doctrines. A Mr. Brown, then living 
near what is now called West Gorham, became a proselyte ; 
others soon joined him, and they formed a society ; Mr. 
Brown became a leading man among; them. Barnabas 
Bangs and Thomas Bangs were Elders. They united their 
means, purchased a large farm, and erected capacious build- 
ings, where Capt. Nelson Merrill now lives. About 1810' 
a part of the society removed to Alfred. About six or 
eight years afterwards, the remaining Shakers sold their 



84 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

possessions in Gorham, and went to Poland and New Glou- 
cester. 

There have been, and still are, a few Calvinistic Baptists, 
Unitarians and Univcrsalists ; but they have never had 
stated preaching, or a church organization in the place. 



EDUCATIONAL. 85 



CHAPTER XI. 

EDUCATION. 

The people of this town have not been inattentive to the 
subject of education. Before the incorporation of the town, 
the proprietors and settlers made provision for schools. At 
the first town meeting in March, 1765, <£40 was voted for 
schools. At that period, only one public school was kept 
in town. In 1768, the town " Voted to improve Mr. John 
Greene as schoolmaster, till the money tax is expended." 
James Ross, a foreigner, taught a school here in 1770. The 
first female teacher in town, was the wife of Thomas Wes- 
ton. 

As the population increased, larger sums were voted for 
instruction ; even in 1778, when most of our men were in 
the army, and many families were sorely pressed to obtain 
the necessaries of life, .£100 was raised for schools ; in 1793, 
£200; in 1800, $850; in 1809, 11000; in 1812, $1500; 
and latterly, not less than $2000 annually have been voted 
and paid out for the support of common schools in Gorham, 
in addition to the town's proportion of Bank tax, which is 
about $150 per year, and the amount paid for private 
schools, is not less than $200 per year. There are twenty- 
five school districts in town. Learning has ever received 
liberal encouragement from the citizens of Gorham. 



86 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

GORHAM ACADEMY. 

How early the inliabitants of this town entertained the 
idea of having an Academy, is not known ; but it is known 
that some of the more enlightened men conversed much 
about the matter, for years prior to the time when an active 
and systematic movement Avas made for that purpose. The 
chief promoters of the Institution were Judge Longfellow, 
Judge Gorham, Hon. Lothrop Lewis, John P. Little, Esq., 
David Harding, Esq., Doctor Dudley Folsom, and a few 
others. In 1802, a petition, headed by Hon. Stephen Long- 
fellow, in favor of the establishment of an Academy in Gor- 
ham, was presented to the Legislature of Massachusetts. 
Col. Lothrop Lewis was at that time the Representative of 
Gorham ; he was active and persevering in his efforts to 
accomphsh the objects of the petition. The act incorpora- 
ting the Academy and locating it in Gorham, passed the 
House of Representatives, March 1st, and the Senate, 
March 4th, and was approved by Gov. Strong, March 5, 
1803. At that time there were but six incorporated Acade- 
mies in Maine, viz : one in each of the towns of Hallowell, 
Berwick, Fryeburg, Machias, Portland, and New Castle. 

The Academy was to be for the education of both sexes, 
in such languages, and such of the liberal arts, as the Trus- 
tees shall order and direct. The Charter provided that the 
number of Trustees shall not at any time be more than fif- 
teen, nor less than nine. The first board of Trustees were 
Rev. Thomas Lancaster, Hon, William Gorham, Honorable 
Stephen Longfellow, Rev. Elijah Kellogg, Rev. Daniel Mar- 
rett. Rev. Caleb Bradley, Capt. David Harding, Jr., John 
P. Little, Esq., Mr. Mathew Cobb, Hon. Woodbury Storer, 
Doctor Dudley Folsom, Mr. William McLellan, Mr. James 
Phinney, Mr. Samuel Elder, and Samuel Whitmore. All 
of these fifteen Trustees are now dead. The last survivor 



EDUCATIONAL. 87 

of the Corporate Board, was the Rev. Caleb Bradley, who 
died June 2d, 1861, in the 90th year of his age. 

The Trustees held their first meeting, June 1st, 1803, at 
the house of Samuel Staples, innholder, in Gorham. Hon. 
William Gorham was chosen President, and John P. Little, 
Esq., Secretary, and David Harding, Jr., Esq., Treasurer 
of the Board. On the 23d of June, 1803, the Legislature 
granted half a township of land to Gorham Academy, on 
condition that the sum of $3000 should be subscribed for 
the use of the Academy within one year ; of this sum, 
$2500 was subscribed by citizens of Gorham. The whole 
$3000 was speedily secured. Subsequently the town voted 
to raise $400 in aid of the Listitution. Eight of our towns- 
men gave $100 each. Mr. Thomas McLellan gave one acre 
of land in the village on which to erect the buildings. This 
lot was then valued at $350. The half township granted 
by the Legislature, was located in what is now the town of 
Woodstock, in the county of Oxford. Lothrop Lewis and 
Matthew Cobb, were the committee for locatino- and sellinsr 
the same. The grant was surveyed in 1806 by Gen. James 
Irish. It was sold to James H. Chadboume and twenty- 
three others, mostly citizens of Gorham, for the sum of 
$10,000. 

In 1804, the Trustees made preparation to erect a build- 
ing of wood, fifty feet long and forty feet wide, two stories 
high, with a cupola for a bell. Mr. Samuel Elder contract- 
ed to build the edifice. It is the same building now called 
the old Academy. It was finished in 1806. On the eighth 
of September, 1806, the ceremony of dedicating the Acad- 
emy, and inaugurating the Preceptor, took place. A large 
collection of people from this, and the neighboring toAvns, 
assembled to witness the proceedings. The new Preceptor, 
Mr. Reuben Nason, was duly installed ; he delivered an 
Address appropriate to the occasion, which was printed at 



88 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

the request of the Trustees. Mr. Nason was a native of 
Dover, N. H., and graduated at Harvard University in 
1802. He was a thorough scholar, especially in the Latin 
and Greek languages, and Mathematics ; he was an able 
teacher and attentive and faithful to the duties of his voca- 
tion ; somewhat severe, but never revengeful ; and he has 
been called by one of * his most distinguished pupils, ''that 
sternly hind old man:' His scholars loved and respected 
him. The Academy flourished under his guidance. Male 
pupils were only admitted, and none under ten years of age ; 
and the whole number Hmited to forty-five. Tuition was 
two dollars per term of eleven weeks. The Bible was re- 
quired to be read daily in school, which was to be opened 
and closed with prayer. The Columbian Orator and En- 
field's Speaker were the principal reading books ; Murray's 
Grammar, Walsh's Arithmetic, Webber's Mathematics, and 
Morse's Geography were the chief text books in English 
studies. No student was allowed to go out of town without 
leave. They were required to keep the Sabbath strictly, 
to attend public worship, and pass the remainder of Sunday 
in their respective places of lodging. The salary of the 
Preceptor was $600 per year. 

The next year, the Trustees voted that the number of 
pupils might be seventy, fifteen of whom might be females. 
The admission of females into the Institution, as pupils, 
was strongly opposed by many of the friends, and some of 
the Trustees, of the Academy. How strangely times and 
opinions alter. Within the period of fifty years, we have 
seen this Seminary of learning— first exclusively composed 
of male scholars, then both sexes admitted ; then females 
alone taught here, and now again a school for both sexes. 

The prosperity of the Academy was increasing — the 
number of pupils enlarged — the price of tuition raised to 
82,50 per quarter, and an assistant teacher employed. The 



EDUCATIONAL. 89 

Trustees made some new rules. Scholars were prohibited 
from attending music or dancing schools. 

Early in 1810, Mr. Nason requested to be released from 
his engagement as Preceptor ; he having had a call to settle 
in the ministry at Freeport. The Trustees released him, 
and the school was suspended four months. 

Doctor Charles Coffin, of Brunswick, was engaged as Pre- 
ceptor ; he introduced several new text books ; new regu- 
lations were made ; the restriction limiting the number of 
female scholars was removed, and any numl)er of young 
ladies were allowed to be pupils. A separate " Female 
Department" was established, and Miss Khoda Parker was 
the first Preceptress in 1811. Her salary was i300 per 
year. The productive funds of the Academy at this time 
exceeded $11,000. After one year's teaching, Doctor Coffin 
declined a farther engagement, he being offered $1000 a 
year to teach in Portsmouth, N. H. Doctor Coffin did not 
please his pupils, and he Avas unpopular — students feared, 
but did not love him ; he always seemed to have an atmos- 
phere of repulsion around him ; he had no words of en- 
couragement for timid scholars. 

Asa Redington, Jr., was Dr. Coffin's successor as Princi- 
pal of the Academy. Mr. Redington was from Waterville. 
He o;raduated at Bowdoin College in 1811. He has been 
a sound lawyer. State Treasurer, Judge of the District 
Court, and Reporter of the Decisions of the Supreme Judi- 
cial Court. 

Mr. William White was the fourth Preceptor. 

In September, 1815, Mr. Nason again took charge of the 
Academy, and continued as Principal till August, 1831 ; he 
then removed to Clarkson, New York, and died suddenly 
at that place in January, 1835. 

In 1831, Mr. John V. Beane became Preceptor. Mr. 
Beane was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1832. 
12 



90 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

His successor, Rev. Amos Brown, graduated in the same 
class. 

In 1828, ornamental trees were planted on the Academy- 
grounds ; the building was painted, blinds attached to the 
windows ; a philosophical apparatus purchased, and a course 
of lectures on Electricity was given. In 1833-4, an attempt 
to connect a manual labor department with the Institution 
was made. A mechanic shop and tools were hired. The 
manual labor project was a failure. The experiment was 
altogether unprofitable. A change now came over the 
Institution ; the plan of the school was altered ; it was 
determined to separate the male and female departments, 
and erect a large brick edifice for a female boarding school, 
and increase the number of teachers, both male and female. 
Mr. Brown was elected Principal with a salary of $750, 
which was soon increased to f 1000 per year. The Trus- 
tees voted to attempt to raise $30,000 for buildings, appa- 
ratus and the pay of teachers. The Rev. T. Pomeroy, then 
pastor of the Congregational Parish in this town, was chosen 
agent to canvass the Stateand solicit subscriptions ; he en- 
gaged in the enterprise with energy, and more than $20,000 
were subscribed. In 1836, the large brick edifice, four 
stories high, was erected, and a learned and efficient corps 
of Professors and Lady Teachers were employed. The 
school was fully supplied with scholars ; several hundred 
yearly attended. But the expenses had exceeded the means ; 
of the $21,000 subscribed, not more than $7000 were paid. 

The purchase of land, buildings, furniture, apparatus, 
musical instruments, &c., had cost over $20,000, and had 
absorbed, not only the donations, but all the old Academic 
fund of more than $12,000. The tuition would not meet 
the expenditures. This state of things greatly embarrassed 
the Trustees. The Institution, however, was flourishing. 
Rev. Amos BroAvn, now President of the Agricultural Col- 



I 
EDUCATIONAL. 91 

lege in Western New York, was Principal. Eev. Franklin 
Yeaton, and Rev. Thomas Tenney, were successively Pro- 
fessors of Languages. Robert Douglass, Esq., Professor of 
Scientific and Practical Engineering. Benjamin Wyman 
was Teacher of Music and Penmanship. Miss Jane Inger- 
soll was first Lady Principal. Miss Barrows and Miss Mc- 
Keen were Assistant Female Teachers. Miss Russell suc- 
ceeded Miss Ingersoll, and there have been since many 
accomplished female instructresses. The new Seminary 
buildings were dedicated Sept. 13, 1837, when an Address 
was delivered by Prof. Packard, of Bowdoin College, and 
a Poem by William Cutter, Esq. An appropriate Ode was 
furnished by C. P. Bsley, Esq. 

In 1817, Mr. Brown resigned his office as Principal, and 
was succeeded by Edward P. Weston, Esq., who continued 
at the head of the Seminary till 1860. Then the school was 
continued awhile by female teachers only, ]\Irs. Lord being 
Principal. In 1861, the male and female departments were 
united, and Mr. Josiah B. Webb is now at the head of the 
Seminary, and conducting its instructions much to the satis- 
faction of the Trustees and the community. Thousands of 
scholars have been here instructed in literature, science and 
religion ; many of them have become distinguished persons 
at the bar, in the pulpit, and medical profession, in the State 
Legislatures, and in the Congress of the United States. 



02 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 



CHAPTEE XII. 

PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 

The Indian wars were over. The dwellers in the gar- 
rison left the old fortress, which was never to be again in- 
habited. The settlers re-occupied their long abandoned 
houses. The fear of savage attacks was at an end. It was 
no longer necessary to protect their dwellings. The settlers 
went to work in earnest to clear and plant their fields, and 
their labor was well repaid by abundant harvests. The 
grazing capabilities of our lands enabled the owners to 
largely increase their stock of cattle, sheep and horses. The 
streams were bridged — new roads laid out and made safe 
and convenient, new settlers flocked in, and the town was 
thrifty. In 171:2-3, Capt. John Gorham erected a saw mill 
and grist mill on Little River, on the Fort Hill road, where 
Whitney's and Merrill's mills now are. Those mills were 
destroyed during the Indian troubles. In 1753, Enoch 
Freeman, Solomon Lombard and Wentworth Stuart, built 
new mills on the same place, at a cost of X1738 9s. 8d. 
The next year a new bridge was built over Little River just 
above these mills, and the road to Pearsontown, (Standish) 
cleared out and made passable with wheels. In 1761, John 
Phinney, Hugh McLellan and Clement Meserve, cleared a 
road from Gorham Corner to Bragdon's mills in Scarbor- 
ough. 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 03 

Several mechanics moved Into the town. Joseph Pilkin- 
ton is beUeved to have been the first blacksmith. He lived 
about half a mile southerly from the Corner, near where 
Mr. Samuel Edwards dwelt. John and William Cotton 
were the first tanners in Gorham ; they came from Portland, 
and were sons of Deacon Wm. Cotton who came from Ports- 
mouth to Portland in 1732. The Gorham William was 
born in 1739, and John in 1741. They have descendants 
now living in town. In the early periods of the place large 
flocks of sheep were kept. There are comparatively few 
now. Formerly flax and peas were extensively cultivated in 
town. The former has ceased to be raised, and peas now 
form but a small part of our products. Our farmers early 
paid attention to fruit ti'ces, and Gorham made large quan- 
tities of cider ; and though many apples are yet raised, but 
little cider is manufactured. Severe seasons, and destruc- 
tive insects have greatly diminished our fruit trees. Hay, 
oats, barley, potatoes, and garden vegetables, are our chief 
products. Few towns in the State, it is believed, raise and 
sell as much hay as Gorham. Beef and pork are also largely 
produced. Some branches of mechanical trade, that once 
employed many hands in town, have ceased to exist, among 
which are cooper work, cabinet making, pottery, soap mak- 
ing, tin ware manufactories, clock making, and some others. 
John Dickey was the first hatter who carried on his trade 
here. Joseph Hunt for many years manufactured many 
hats. David Patrick was the first mason — and the first 
house plastered in town, was James McLellan's, fiither of 
the late Deacon James McLellan. The same house is now 
standing and is owned by Miss C. Storer. The first brick 
house is the one a little north of the Academy ; it Avas long 
owned by Thomas McLellan, and afterwards by his son 
Kobert. It is said to be the oldest brick dwelling house in 
Cumberland County. 



94 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Gorham has never been distinguished as a manufacturing 
town ; yet various manufactures have been carried on in the 
place. Lumbering in its different forms has always occu- 
pied the citizens to a large amount in the whole. Carpet 
making, for twenty years past, has employed many hands, 
and 130,000 or $40,000 annually. Tanning and currying 
has, for about the same number of years, been pursued ex- 
tensively by Stephen Hinkley and others. Hoes, curriers' 
knives, and various other tools, were made by Mr. George 
Hight, some years ago. 

Mr. Elden Gammon has a machine shop, with water 
power, where he manufixctures lathes, planing machines, and 
other heavy and nice implements. Boots and shoes are 
made in considerable quantities in the two principal villages. 
A powder mill at Gambo Falls does a large, and it is said, 
a profitable business. At Little Falls there was for many 
years a cotton factory where sheeting and shirting cloths 
were spun and woven. The mill was burned a few years 
ago, and has not been rebuilt. Many of our settlers came 
from the maritime towns of Massachusetts, and were accus- 
tomed to the sea, and quite a number of the early citizens 
pursued a sea-faring life, and Gorham had a large number 
of sailors and masters of vessels. We have no accurate 
data by which to determine the number of the inhabitants, 
or the amount of their property, till after the Eevolutionary 
war. From the number of polls and valuation lists of that 
period, we may make, perhaps, a near estimate. In 1772, 
there were 195 1-2 polls, 506 sheep, 125 swine, 77 horses, 
281 cows, 204 oxen, 395 acres of tillage land, 527 acres of 
pasture, 853 tons of hay, and 4 slaves. The polls were 
reckoned from 16 years of age ; till males were twenty- 
one years old they were taxed in the poll lists to their pa- 
rents or guardians, hence, in some instances, females (wid- 
ows with minor sons) were taxed for polls ; for some reasons 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 95 

certain men were not taxed for polls ; for instance, clergy- 
men. So Mr. Ebenezer Mayo and Joseph Quinby were not 
rated in the poll list, because they had erected mills in town. 
Males over 70 years of age were not ordinarily taxed for 
polls. In 1772, there were 57 males that had polls but no 
property, 17 that had property, but no poll tax. Solomon 
Lombard, Esq., William McLellan, Lemuel Rich, and Na- 
thaniel AVhitney had each two horses ; 69 individuals OA\Tied 
one horse each ; Joshua Decker was the only person in town 
in 1772, that owned a horse and no other taxable property. 
William McLellan owned tioo Negro slaves, and Jacob 
Hamblen one. Forty-eight persons owned one coav each, 
53 owned two cows each, 13 three each, 12 owned four 
each, and three owned six each ; 74 men owned no cow, 64 
men owned each a yoke of oxen, 16 owned 2 yokes, and 
two owned 6 oxen each ; 127 men owned no oxen, 74 per- 
sons owned sheep. Very few flocks of sheep exceeded 15 
in number. Four persons cut twenty tons of hay, each ; 
35 cut from 5 to 15 tons apiece ; 52 cut less than 5 tons ; 
and 90 men cut no hay ; only one person, (John Harding) 
is recorded as having twelve acres of land under tillage. 
As to the population of Gorham in 1772, an approximate 
census may be formed from the number of polls ; assuming 
that there were as many females as males over sixteen years 
of age, which was 196, and if we add one half as many 
under 16 years of age, we obtain about 580, or 600 souls, 
as the population of the town in 1772. At the commence- 
ment of the revolutionary war, Gorham contained about 850 
inhabitants. 

In 1772, the town voted 7iot to send a Representative to 
the General Court on account of poverty. At that time and 
long after, the towns paid their own Representatives. 
In 1790 Gorham contained 2244 inhabitants. 
« 1800 " " 2503 " 



96 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



[n 1810 Gorh 


am 


contained 2632 inhabitants. 


" 1820 






2800 




" 1830 






2988 




" 1840 






3002 




" 1850 






3088 




" 18(30 






3253 





The property of our town has steadily increased since 
the war of 1812. And the State valuation of 1860 shows 
the amount of taxable property to be more than one million 
of dollars, and is the fourth town in the County of Cumber- 
land in the amount of its valuation. 



PHYSICIANS. 

More than thirty years elapsed after the settlement of the 
town before any regular physician was permanently located 
here. Doctor Stephen Swett was the first physician in this 
place ; he was from Exeter, N. H., and was a prominent 
man in municipal affairs in the time of the Revolution ; he 
was surgeon of Col. Edmund Phinney's Regiment, and Avas 
in several battles. 

Doctor Jeremiah Barker was settled in this town as early 
as 1780, and succeeded Dr. Swett. After practicing several 
years in Gorham, he removed to Falmouth, afterwards to 
Portland, subsequently he married the widow of Judge 
Gorham, returned to this town and died here in 1835, at the 
age of 84 years. 

Doctor Nathaniel Bowman, who graduated at Harvard 
University in 1786, was the third physician in town. He 
was a gentlemanly and popular man ; and, as has been before 
stated, was killed at the raising of the meeting house in 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 97 

1797. The widow of Doct. Bowman died within three or 
four years past. 

Doctor Dudley Folsom, from Exeter, N. H., succeeded 
Dr. Bowman, and had a large and successful practice for a 
long number of years. He was a prominent citizen, and 
much engaged in municipal affairs, one of the Trustees of 
Gorliam Academy, and for many years a Eepresentative of 
Gorham in the Legislature of Massachusetts ; he was a man 
of integrity and great private worth. He died in Gorham. 

Doctors Charles Klttrege, Asa Adams, Wm. Thorndike, 
Dr. Seaver, Elihu Baxter, Wm. H. Peabody, John Pierce, 
S. W. Baker, Enoch Cross, Simeon C. Strong, Edward F. 
Mitchell, "William Wescott, Lewis W. Houghton, Phineas 
Ligalls, Edward W. Anderson, have been medical practi- 
tioners in Gorham, and Avere respectable and useful citizens, 
all of whom have deceased, or removed from town. The 
physicians remaining in practice here at the present time, are 
Doctors John Waterman, Alden T. Keen, Seth C. Gordon, 
Nelson H. Carey, Frederic Eobie, James M. Buzzel. 



COUNSELORS AT LAW- 

John Park Little, a native of Littleton, INIass., graduated 
at Brown University, Rhode Island, in 1794, and opened an 
office for the practice of law in Gorham in 1801. He mar- 
ried Mary J. Prescott, a daughter of Judge Presc'ott, of 
Groton, Mass., in 1804. Mr. Little was an industrious 
man, faithful to the duties of his profession, highly respect- 
ed for his moral and social virtues, having the full confi- 
dence of his friends and townsmen ; he built the three story 
house recently occupied by INIrs. Mary J. Lewis. Mr. Lit- 
tle died in Gorham in 1809. 
13 



98 HISTORY or GORHAM. , 

Peter Tliacher, son of Hon. Joslah Tliacher, began to 
practice law In Gorham in 1805 ; he removed to Saccarappa 
and died there. 

Barrett Potter (graduated at Dartmouth Colleo;e in 1796. 
He opened an office in North Yarmouth. After a short 
time he removed to Gorham in 1805, and tlie next year he 
left Gorham and removed to Portland, where he was a prac- 
titioner for many years — was a Senator in the State Legis- 
lature in 1822, President of the Canal Bank, and Judge of 
Probate for Cumberland County from 1822 to 1846. Judge 
Potter is still livino; in Portland at an advanced ao;e. 

Samuel Whitmore, Jr., was a native of Gorham. He 
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1802, studied law with 
Mr. Little, and practiced in Gorham a short time, and died 
in this town. 

Joseph Adams was a native of Sudbury, Mass. ; he grad- 
uated at Harvard College in 1805, studied law with Hon. 
George Tliacher, whose daughter Sarah he married. Mr. 
Adams commenced his professional practice in Buxton, but 
soon removed to Gorham, and continued in the legal prac- 
tice in this town till October, 1821, when he removed to 
Portland, and died in 1850. Mr. Adams was a sound law- 
yer, and an upright man, and possessed, in a large degree, 
the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. For many 
years he was County Attorney, and was a delegate from 
Gorham to the Convention that formed the Constitution of 
Maine. 

Jacob S. Smith was a native of Durham, N. H. ; he 
graduated at Harvard in 1805. After reading law with 
his father, Ebenezer Smith of Durham, he opened an office 
in Gorham village, and pursued his profession for forty 
years ; he then retired from practice. He now lives on a 
farm in this town. 

Josiah Pierce, a native of Baldwin, and a graduate of 



PEOGRESS OF THE TOWN. 99 

Bowdoln College, opened an office in Gorham in 1821, and 
still continues in the profession. 

Elijah Hayes was a native of Limerick, and read law with 
Judge Howard, and commenced practice in this town in 
1833, and had an increasing business till his sudden death 
in 1846. 

Thomas H. Goodwin, Henry P. A. Smith, Charles N. 
Danforth, John W. Dana, and Alvah Black, were lawyers 
in this town for brief periods, and have all left the place. 

John A. Waterman, a graduate of Bowdoin College, of 
the class of 1846, opened his office here in 1850, and still 
continues his legal practice in Gorham. 

The Counselors at law in this town have nearly all been 
educated, upright, public spirited men, and useful, worthy 
citizens. 

The following persons from this to\\Ti have received a 
collegiate education. 

Stephen Longfellow graduated at Harvard in 1798 

Samuel Whitmore, Jr. graduated at Dartmouth in 1802 



Randolph A. L. Codman 


u 


Bowdoin in 


1816 


Stephen L. Lewis 


(i 




1816 


William McDougall 


ii 




1820 


Chai-les Harding 


(« 




1821 


James Larry 


(C 




1821 


Stephen McLellan Staples 


(( 




1821 


Charles H. P. ISIcLellan 


ii 




1822 


WiUiam T. Smith 


(( 




1823 


Thomas McDougall 


(( 




1824 


William T. Hilliard 


(( 




1826 


Seargent S. Prentiss 


(( 




1826 


John H. Hilliard 


(( 




1827 


Francis B. Robie 


^^ 




1829 


Francis Bai-bour 


a 




1830 


Jabez C. Rich 


a 




1832 



100 



HISTORY OP GORHAM. 



Reuben Nason, Jr. graduated at Bowdoin in 1834 


John D. Smith " * 


1834 


George L. Prentiss " ' 


1835 


WiUiam W. Rand 


1837 


Edward Robie " ' 


1840 


Frederick Robie " ' 


1841 


Josiah Pierce, Jr. " ' 


1846 


John L. Waterman " ' 


1846 


Lewis Pierce " ' 


• 1852 


Thomas S. Robie *' ' 


1856 


George W. Pierce " ' 


1857 


Oliver Libby " ' 


1859 


George B. Emery " ' 


1860 


Charles 0. Hunt " ' 


1861 



i 



MISCELLANEOUS. 101 



CHAPTEK XIII. 

MISCELLANEOUS. — TOWN HOUSES. 

For several years after the town was incorporated, town 
meetings were held in the meeting house of the First Parish. 
Afterwards at the Corner school house. In 1815, a town 
house was erected on Fort HiU, near where the old garrison 
once stood. This building was the place of town meeting 
for thirty years. In 1821, an union meeting house was 
erected on a hill at the western part of the village. This 
building was designed to be used as a place for public wor- 
ship for any, and all religious sects. The Free Will Bap- 
tists and Methodists principally occupied it ; it was called 
the " Free Meeting House ;" like most other union churches, 
instead of being a bond of harmony, it was quite the re- 
verse. The Proprietors of the building obtained permission 
of the Legislature to sell it at auction. Hon. Toppan Iloble 
became the purchaser, and he offered to exchange it with 
the town for the old town house on Fort Hill. The offer 
was a generous one, and was accepted by the town, though 
not without great opposition from some of the citizens in the 
northern and western parts of the town. Many town meet- 
ings on the subject were held. Many contended that the 
town house should be In the centre of the town, but a large 
majority knew the territorial centre of the town would be a 
very inconvenient place for voters to go to. After many 
trials of strength it was repeatedly settled to have the Free 



102 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

meetino; house for the lown house. It has been altered and 
repaired, and makes a commodious and convenient place for 
town meetings. In 1829, an eifort was made to divide the 
town by setting off the northerly part, and with parts of 
Standish and Windham, form a new town, but the Legisla- 
ture were averse to the project. 



THE TOWN'S POOR. 

For more than thirty years after the incorporation of the 
town, no specific sums were voted for the support of the 
poor ; each individual case of necessity was attended to by 
the Selectmen, and the amount expended was voted at some 
subsequent town meeting. When articles were inserted 
in the warrants for town meetings, the town would vote 
to dismiss them, and they would vote that the Selectmen 
see to the circumstances of persons applying for aid, and 
direct them to manage the pauper business as prudently 
as might be. After awhile, the number needing assistance 
becoming larger, it was the custom of the town to let out 
the support of their poor to the lowest bidder, if the over- 
seers of the poor thought the lowest bidder suitable to take 
charge of the indigent. When the surplus revenue of the 
United States was deposited with the States, and Maine hav- 
ing distributed their several proportions to the towns, this 
town voted to apply their portion to the purchase of a farm 
for the poor, and the farm of Mr. John Hamblen on the 
Gray road was bought for about $3000. Agricultural tools 
were provided, and a Superintendent of the Poor Farm, and 
of the paupers, M^as hired, and the paupers were thus taken 
care of. But this method of using these funds was not 
^agrecable to many persons, who paid small, or no taxes ; 



MISCELLANEOUS. 103 

and after repeated town meetings, it was voted to distribute 
the surplus revenue funds to each individual, and a commit- 
tee was chosen to make the distribution ; it amounted to 
something over two dollars for each man, woman and child 
in Gorham. Since then most of the paupers have been kept 
on the Huston farm, which the town rents of Mrs. Ruth 
Huston, for about $165 per year, and a Superintendent 
takes care of the poor there, and cultivates the farm. Many, 
however, are partially supported, who do not go to the town 
farm. The annual expense to the town, for the support of 
their poor, is about $800 at the present period. 



KOADS. 



There are nearly three hundred miles of public highways 
in town ; and as the nature of the soil, in most places, is 
not well adapted to good roads, the expense of keeping them 
in repair is a heavy item of taxation. Near $1000 per year 
are expended on the roads and bridges. 

The York & Cumberland Railroad passes through our 
principal village, and affords a convenient and rapid commu- 
nication with Portland and other parts of our State and 
country. 

The Oxford & Cumberland Canal runs through Gorham, 
from Standish to Westbrook, and on to the sea. It was first 
opened for the passage of boats in 1829. 



104 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



POST-OFFICE. 

A Post-office was established in Gorliam in 1797. 
Samuel Prentiss was appointed Post-master, Sept., 1797. 
Samuel Whitmore, Jr., " " June, 1807. 

Alexander McLellan, " " Dec. 5, 1809. 

Isaac C. Irish, « " April 18, 1837. 

Stevens Smith, " " Dec. 8, 1811. 

James Irish, " " June 7, 1845. 

Joshua B. Phipps, " " July 20, 1849. 

Samuel ^Y. Lord, " " June 20, 1853. 

John Farnham, " " Dec. 1857. 

Ebenezer W. ISTevens, " " June, 1861. 

A Post-office was established at West Gorham in 1829. 
Simeon C. Clements aj)pointed Post-master, Jan. 13, 1829. 
Greenleaf C. Watson, " " Feb. G, 1841. 

Naaman C. Watson, " " Aug. 6, 1841. 

Daniel B. Clements, " " May 17, 1844. 

Thomas J. Hasty, " " 1860. 



The first Inn-holder in this town was Caleb Chase in 1770. 
Cary McLellan opened a public house in 1779. 
Samuel Prentiss opened a public house in 1786. 
Samuel Staj^les opened a public house in 1805. 
At present there are four or five taverns in town. 



There was a violent tornado, or hurricane, passed over a 1 
portion of Gorham July 31, 1767. It commenced near Lake 



MISCELLANEOUS. 105 

Sebago, and swept over the north-easterly corner of the town 
into Windham, near Loveitt's Falls ; its breadth was about 
three-fourths of a mile, and it prostrated all trees in its course. 
Ever since that event, that portion of the town has been 
called "The Hurricane District." 



In September, 1787, on a still, clear afternoon, several 
loud, distinct reports were heard bj many people of Gor- 
ham, Standish, and Baldwin ; the noise Avas said to be as 
great as that made by large cannon ; there were ten or twelve 
of these reports. These noises greatly alarmed many of our 
townsmen. The probability is that the sounds were caused 
by the bursting of meteoric stones in the atmosphere. 



CEMETEEIES. 

The first grave yard in toAvn Avas one near the fort on 
Fort Hill, which is yet used for a place of sepulture. There 
was also a small burying ground at the village, back of 
where the shops of G. L. Darling and Jonas W. Clark now 
stand. There never were stones with inscriptions there, and 
nearly all traces of graves have disappeared. The principal 
public burying place, of our early inhabitants, was at the 
A'illage, near the corner on South Street, now called the old 
grave yard. This lot was given to the town by Mr. Jacob 
Hamlen in 1770. In a town meeting held March 25, 1771, 
the following vote was passed : — Voted, " That Solomon 
bard, Esq., Capt. Edmund Phinney, Nathan "Whitney, Na- 
thaniel Whitney, Joseph Gates, Benjamin Stevens, Benja- 
min Skillings, Eliphalet Watson, and Joseph Pilkinton, be 
a committee to return the thanks of the town to Mr. Jacob 
14 



106 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Hamlen, for his generosity in giving to the town half an 
acre of land for the purpose of a burying yard." 

At a public town meeting held in the month of April, 
1771, the following address was publicly made : — 

" An Address of Thanhs of the Town of Gorham to Mr. 
Jacob Hamlen for his Generous present and gft to the 
Town of a Tract of Land for a Common Burying Place., 
Pronounced hy Solomon Lombard., Lsq.^ Chairman of 
the Committee that was chosen by the Town for that pur- 
pose the 25th of March., 1771. 

" Mr. Hamlen — This large Committee are commanded 
by the Town of Gorham, to wait upon you, Sir, with an 
Address of Thanks of the Town, for your free and generous 
present made to the Town, of a parcel of land for a common 
Burying place, where the people may bury their Dead out 
of their sight. True it is. Sir, that the intrinsic value of the 
Present made to the Town is not equal to the donations of 
some of Greater Fortunes, who have built Hospitals and 
endowed them, and have built Churches and endowed them, 
and thereby have transmitted their names and Honor to 
unborn Ages, yet notwithstanding this. Sir, the free and 
generous Air and the Religious end for which you make this 
ofift to the Town, renders it a Great, Noble and Generous 
Donation, where survivors may deposit their Greatest Treas- 
ure, their dear Friend and Relative ; that provision be made 
for depositing the dead, is as necesary as to make provision of 
houses for the living to dwell in. By the Apostacy and fall 
from God, Adam and all his Posterity became mortal. In 
the day thou Eatest thereof thou shalt surely Die. Death 
is entailed upon all Adams's posterity, and every one knows, 
that as he is born he shall surely die ; so that Burying places 
not only are convenient, but absolutely necessary for the 
dearest friend and relative Avhile living, that gives the most 



MISCELLANEOUS. 107 

pleasing sensation of pleasure and delight, in converse and 
communion with them, but when once cold Death embraces 
this object in his arms, he or she becomes disagreeable com- 
pany. That object that once delighted every eye, and 
charmed every heart, and engrossed the strongest affection ; 
when once the lovely corpse becomes shaded with the image 
and picture of Death and corruption, all pleasing sensations 
and delight are lost and gone, and the breast that once 
swelled with Joy, now is charged with an insupportable load 
of Grief, and his thoughts are employed Avliere to deposit his 
dead out of his sight. When God visited Abraham and by 
his afflictive hand had snatched from him a portion of his 
very heart in the Death of his Dearly Beloved Sarah, she 
who once by her beauty charmed him, and her becoming 
mien greatly Delighted him. And her ready and cheerful 
obedience and Aifection for him gave her the highest place 
in his heart of all Earthly objects, but upon this Event, viz : 
the Death of Sarah, he was so far from Ileceiving pleasure or 
Satisfaction from the presence of the Corpse, that it Excited 
the greatest pain and uneasiness of mind, and seeks a place 
to repose his Dead out of his Sight ; for we find recorded in 
Sacred Writ, that Abraham stood up before his Dead and 
Spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a 
sojourner with you, give me a possession of a Burying place 
with you that I may Bury my Dead out of my sight. Upon 
which they Generously offered him the choice of their Sepul- 
chres to bury his Dead. Upon Avhicli xVbraham bowed him- 
self to the people in Gratitude to them ; but this was not 
what he Avas desirous of; but a piece of Ground that He 
might call his own, that he might there Avithout Trespass, 
vicAV the monument of his dying or dead friend, and there 
empty his Breast overcharged with Grief in shoAvers of 
Tears over her Grave. For this purpose, he entreats the 
sons of Heth to plead for him Avith Zohar for the cave 



108 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Machpelah at y« end of his field for as much money as it 
was worth, where he might depose this once lovely Corpse, 
and without Trespass or oifence to any might visit and mourn 
over. S^ the same desire prevails in every man ; he desires 
the liberty of visiting the Grave Yard, and see the little 
hillock, the Rising Ground — the memorial of the dead, with- 
out ground of complaint from any one, there to contemplate 
the state of mortality, the irreparable loss Sustained, and to 
weep over the Dead. There is, S', a secret pleasure in this, 
as weeping for Sin yields comfort to the penitent, so mourn- 
ing for the dead does yield satisfaction. This mourning is 
not altogether a painful sensation. You, S'", have put it in 
the power of the people in this place to visit their Dead as 
often as their inclination excites them thereto. The Dead 
Bodys are Deposed as Seed, as Seed sown for the Resurrec- 
tion. And probable it is that most of us may soon in a few 
months or years mingle our Dust with those there buried, 
until the Sound of the last Trumpet, arise y« dead, and come 
to judgment. God in mercy prepare each of us for such an 
event. 

" And noAv, S% to conclude, we, the Committee do, in the 
name of the town, wish, and pray that God in his provi- 
dence may shower down into your bosom sevenfold of the 
good things of this life in Recompense for your Charity and 
Goodness, and in the world to come, may you be rewarded 
with Life eternal, and that both you and we may be as happy 
as to joyn the Great Assembly above. Angels, Arch-An- 
gels, and the whole Church Triumphant in singing the Song 
of Moses and the Lamb, where there shall be no more pain 
or dying, no weeping for Departed friends, but fullness of 
joy at God's Right hand." 

A large and convenient burying ground near the village 
was purchased and lotted out, some thirty years ago, which 
is now the principal cemetery. There arc several other 



MISCELLANEOUS. 109 

public places for sepulture in tovm — at South Gorham, 
West Gorham, Little Falls village, White Rock and at the 
north part of the town. 



110 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE REVOLUTION. 

Scarcely had the mino-led sounds of the French and 
Indian war died away, and our citizens got quietly settled 
in their industrial pursuits, when other, and ominous reports 
from another quarter, burst upon the startled ears of our 
people. Rumors of impending troubles with the mother 
country came across the Atlantic, and deeply saddened the 
hearts of the American Colonies. At that period our town 
was peaceful and flourishing ; its resources were being rap- 
idly developed. It was incorporated and organized with 
judicious Municipal officers. Their prosperity was soon to 
be checked by new national difficulties. The troubles be- 
tween Great Britain and her transatlantic children were as- 
suming a serious aspect. The people of this town, ever 
keenly alive in the cause of liberty and justice, entered ear- 
nestly into the troubles with England. As early as Septem- 
ber, 1768, a town meeting was held, and Solomon Lombard, 
Esq., (the former pastor) was chosen " an agent to go to 
Boston, as soon as may be, to join a Convention of agents 
from other towns in the Province, to consult and resolve 
upon such measures as may most conduce to the safety and 
welfare of the inhabitants of this Province at this alarmino- 
and critical conjuncture." Mr. Lombard was allowed eight 
days for going to, and returning from Boston. 

When the pride, ambition, and cupidity of the British 



i 



THE REVOLUTION. Ill 

government led them to inflict on our land successive 
wrongs ; when they attempted to violate the plainest rights, 
and subvert the dearest privileges of the Colonies ; when 
the Ministry of George III. had become deaf to the implor- 
ing voice of mercy and justice, and the patriots of America 
had determined to resist the unrighteous demands of Old 
England ; Avhen the blood of the good and brave had 
moistened the fields of Lexington and Bunker Hill ; when 
Charlestown and Portland were but heaps of smoking ruins ; 
the freemen of Gorham did not prove recreant to the great 
and sacred cause of Liberty. Our peaceful, inland town, 
remote from invasion and the clang of arms, was awake and 
active in the great concern. She contributed freely and 
largely of her citizens and property to the general cause. 
Our townsmen left their quiet pursuits to mingle in the 
storm of war. She sent her sons north and south, and east 
and west, to fight, and bleed and die ! She constantly con- 
tributed more than her quota of troops for the Continental 
army. Capt. Hart Williams commanded a full company 
from Gorham in Col. Phinney's Regiment, and Capt. Alex- 
ander McLellau led a large company, all except one piivate 
from Gorham, under Gen. Wadsworth to Castine, (then 
called Buygaduce) in the unfortunate Penobscot expedition, 
A large number of Gorham men Avere also in the Machias 
expedition. At one time every third man in this town, ca- 
pable of bearing arms, was in the army. She had soldiers 
in almost every battle of the Revolution. At the encraire- 
ment on Rhode Island, in 1778, Paul Whitney and Mr. 
Wescott were killed. The energetic and brave Col. Ed- 
mund Phinney led his Regiment to Cambridge soon after 
Bunker Hill battle, and was among the first to march into 
Boston after its evacuation by the Bi'itish ; he conducted 
himself with great activity, courage, and prudence ; he did 
much to induce our townsmen to exert themselves to the 



112 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

utmost to maintain the war. In an original letter now be- 
fore me, dated in " Camp at Cambridge, May 26, 1776," 
writing to his father, the venerable John Phinney, the first 
settler, he says, "I am very well and in high spirits, and 
hope to continue so, till every tory is banished this land of 
liberty, and our rights and privileges are restored." 

Capt. John Phinney was at that time too far advanced in 
years to endure the fatigues of a campaign ; but his patriotic 
feelings were warm and vigorous, and his sons and his 
grandsons went to the war. Besides Col. Edmund, and his 
brother, John Phinney, Jr., (the first white man that planted 
a hill of corn in Gorham) and his two sons, John Phinney 
3d, and Ebenezer Phinney, were in the Revolutionary army. 
In the autumn of 1776, Col. Phinney marched from Cam- 
bridge to Ticonderoga. Capt. Hart Williams' com25any of 
Gorham men served three campaigns in the northern army, 
and were engaged in the several conflicts with the troops 
of Burgoyne, which resulted in that General's surrender. 
Gorham soldiers were not only in the northern army, but 
about thirty men from this town were at Rhode Island, and 
many at New York and in New Jersey at the same time. 
Philip Horr, of Gorham, who was a private in Capt. Traf- 
farn's company of Col. Topham's Rhode Island Regiment, 
was taken prisoner while rowing a boat from Howland's 
ferry to Bristol, with Col. Topham and two of his captains. 
Mr. Horr was placed on board a British prison ship and 
endured great sufferings ; his health was ruined. He served 
twenty-eight months. Gorham men went whenever and 
wherever their country called them. They left their homes 
and firesides, dearer to them than life ; they endured the 
fatigues and dangers of every campaign ; they parted with 
their scanty, hard-earned bread, to feed their brethren in 
arms ; they made constant and liberal provision for the fam- 
ilies of absent soldiers. They wandered with Arnold on 



THE REVOLUTION. 113 

the wild banks of the Kennebec and Chaudlere ; they 
marched with Gen. Greene over the hot sands of CaroHna, 
and the high hills of Santee. They died by the weapons of 
the enemy — they died by contagious disease — they died by 
the noxious air of prison ships — by the cold of winter, and 
by the heat of summer. Those Avho remained at home de- 
voted their time and talents to the cause by noble sacrifices 
and patriotic resolutions. 

In 1772, in response to a Circular from the town of Bos- 
ton, a town meeting was called in Gorham to express the 
sense of -our citizens on " the Eights of the Colonies and the 
several infractions of those rights." Solomon Lombard, 
Esq., was chosen Moderator ; a Committee of Safety and 
Communication, and to draw up Resolves expressive of the 
sense of the town on the subject matter of the Boston Circu- 
lar, was raised. The committee was composed of nine mem- 
bers, who were Solomon Lombard, Esq., Capt. John Phin- 
ney, William Gorham, Esq., Capt. Edmund Phinney, Elder 
Nathan Whitney, Caleb Chase, Capt. Briant Morton, Jo- 
siah Davis, and Benjamin Skilllngs. These Avere prominent 
citizens, men of ability, calmness, energy and experience in 
public affixlrs. The assembled freemen of Gorham then 
voted to return thanks to the town of Boston for their 
vigilance over our privileges and liberties ; the meeting was 
adjourned one week. At the adjourned meeting, January 
7, 1773, the following Preamble and Resolves were reported 
by the committee and adopted by the citizens : — 

" We find it is esteemed an argument of terror to a set of 
the basest of men, who are attempting to enslave us, and 
who desire to wallow in luxury upon the expense of our 
earnings, that this country was purchased by the blood 
of our renowned forefathers, who, flying from the unre- 
lenting rage of civil and religious tyranny in their native 
land, settled themselves in this desolate, howling wilderness. 
15 



114 niSTOKY OF GORHAM. 

But the people of this town of Gorham have an argument 
still nearer at hand ; not only may we say that we enjoy an 
inheritance purchased by the blood of our forefathers, but 
this town was settled at the expense of our own hlood. 
We have those amono; us whose blood, streamino: from their 
own wounds, watered the soil from which we earn our 
bread ! Our ears have heard the infernal yells of the sav- 
age, native murderers \ Our eyes have seen our young 
children weltering in their gore in our own houses, and our 
dearest friends carried into captivity by men more savage 
than the savage beasts themselves ! Many of us have been 
used to earn our daily bread with our weapons in our hands ! 
We cannot be supposed to be fully acquainted with the mys- 
teries of Court policy, but Ave look upon ourselves able to 
judge so far concerning our rights as men, as christians, and 
as subjects of the British Government, as to declare that we 
apprehend those rights as settled by the good people of 
Boston, do belong to us ; and that we look with horror and 
indignation on their violation. We only add that our old 
Captain is still living, who for many years has been our 
chief officer to rally the inhabitants of this town from the 
plough or the sickle, to defend their wives, their children, 
and all that was dear to them, from the savages ! Many of 
us have been inured to the fatigue and danger of flying to 
garrison ! Many of our watch boxes are still in being, the 
timber of our Fort is still to be seen ; some of our women 
have been used to handle the cartridge or load the musket, 
and the swords we sharpened and brightened for our ene- 
mies are not yet grown rusty. Therefore, 

JResolved, That the people of the town of Gorham are 
as loyal as any of his Majesty's subjects in Great Britain or 
the Plantations, and hold themselves always in readiness to 
assist his Majesty with their lives and fortunes in defence 
of the rights and privileges of his subjects. 



THE REVOLUTION. 115 

Resolved, We apprehend that the grievances of which 
we justly complain, are owing to the corruptions of the late 
Ministry, in not suffering the repeated petitions and remon- 
strances from this Province to reach the Royal ear. 

Resolved, It is clearly the opinion of this town, that it is 
better to risk our lives and fortunes in the defence of our 
rights, civil and religious, than to die by piecemeals in 
slavery ! 

Resolved, It is clearly the opinion of this town, that the 
Parliament of Great Britain have no more right to take 
money from us, without our consent, than they have to take 
money without consent from the inhabitants of France or 
Spain. 

Resolved, That the foregoing Resolves and Proceedings 
be registered in the Town Clerk's office, as a standing me- 
morial of the value that the inhabitants of this town put 
upon their rights and privileges." 

These Resolves were signed by all the committee, and 
passed without opposition. 

At a town meeting called to consider the exigency of 
public affairs, January 25, 1774, (which meeting Avas very 
fully attended,) the foUow^ing spirited proceedings were 
had : — 

" 1. Resolved, That our small possessions, dearly pur- 
chased by the hand of labor, and the industry of ourselves, 
and our dear ancestors, with the loss of many lives, by a bar- 
barous and cruel enemy, are, by the laws of God, nature 
and the British Constitution, our own, exclusive of any other 
claim under heaven. , 

2. Resolved, That all and every part and parcel of the 
profits arising therefrom, are also our own, and that none 
can, of right, take away any part or share thereof, without 
our free consent. 

3. Resolved, That for any Legislative body of men under 



116 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

the British Constitution to take, or grant hberty to take, any 
part of our property, or profits, without our consent, is 
State robbery, and ought to be opposed. 

4. Resolved, That the British Parhament laying a tax 
on Americans, for the purpose of raising a revenue, is a vio- 
hition of the laws of religion, and sound policy, inconsis- 
tent with the principles of freedom, that has distinguished 
the British Empire, from its earliest ages. 

5. Resolved, That the appropriating this Eevenue in 
support of a set of the vilest of the human race, in rioting 
in luxury on our spoils, is an unprecedented step of Admin- 
istration^and appears to us most odious. 

G. Resolved, Tliat the Tea Act, in favor of the East India 
Company to export the same to Amei'ica, is a deep-laid 
scheme to betray the unwary and careless into the snare laid 
to catch and enslave them, and requires the joint vigilance, 
fortitude, and courage, of the thoughtful and the brave to 
oppose in every constitutional way. 

7. Resolved, That petitioning the throne carries a very 
gloomy prospect, so long as his Majesty is under the same 
influence that he has been for many years past. 

8. Resolved, That other methods besides Petitioning are 
now become necessary for the obtaining and securing our 
just rights and privileges. 

9. Resolved, That the measures taken by the town of 
Boston in their several meetings to consult, debate, and ad- 
vise, with reo-ard to the tea arrived there, merits the esteem 
and regard of all who esteem their rights worth preserving, 
and will transmit their memory to unborn ages with Honor. 

10. Resolved, That the unfeigned thanks of the Town 
of Gorham wait on the Committee of Correspondence of 
the metropolis, and all the good People that shew their Zeal 
far Liberty in their late Town meetings, and may our indig- 
nation fall on all wlio are enemies to our happy Constitution ! 



THE REVOLUTION. 117 

11. Resolved, That we of this town have such a hlofh 
relish for Liberty that we, all with one heart, stand ready 
sword in hand, with the Italians in the Eoman Eepublick, 
to defend and maintain our rights against all attempts to en- 
slave us, and join our brethren, opposing force to force, if 
drove to the last extremity, which God forbid." 

After these high-toned resolutions were passed, the aged 
Capt. Phinney made a motion, which Avas voted, " that if 
any person of Gorham shall hereafter contemn, despite, or 
reproach the former or the present Kesolves, or endeavor to 
prevent the force or effect of the same among this people, 
he shall be deemed, held, and adjudged, an enemy to his 
country, unworthy the company or regard of all those who 
are the professed sons of freedom, and shall be treated as 
infamous." 

It was then voted that the following be accepted as a pref- 
ace to the foregoino; Resolves. 

" When we contemplate the days of old, the years of an- 
cient times, when the candle of the Lord shone around our 
Tabernacle, and the Benign rays from the throne beamed 
through the whole of our American atmosphere, which 
placed a smile on every face and joy in every heart, and 
each individual sitting under his own Vine and Fig tree, 
having none to annoy or make him afraid, enjoying the 
fruits of his own industry. In this golden age mutual 
Love subsisted between the mother State and her Colonies. 
The mother extended her powerful arm to skreen and Pro- 
tect her children from insult and ruin ; from their and her 
natural enemies, who would have attacked them on their 
watry frontier ; in return, the children have ever been obedi- 
ent to the requisitions of their mother in raising men and 
money to the enlargement of 1:he British Emj^ire to an 
amazing extent, and this without complaint or even a single 
murmur, although they thereby endangered their own bank- 



118 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Tuptcy. But how are circumstances changed ? ' tempora, 
O mores /' the mother lost to her first love ! her maternal 
affection degenerated into a cold indiferency, if not a fixed 
liatred of her children, as is too evident by the repitition of 
one revenue act after another, and appointing Egyptian 
task-masters, if not worse, or cruelly to extort from us our 
property, without so much as to say, by your leave, that 
they may wallow in luxury on our spoils, against every 
princijile of justice, Human or Divine ; And the Tools of 
the Administration, among ourselves, have used every meas- 
ure in their power to weaken our hands and subject us easily 
to be dragooned in chains and slavery, not by dint of ar- 
gument, but by the mere force of the power placed in their 
hands by the Mother Country. These things bearing heavy 
on our minds, and not altogether sunk below all human 
feelings, We, una voce, came to these resolves." 

Then follows a long letter to the Committee of Correspon- 
dence of the town of Boston, filled with the same complaints, 
and strong expressions of indignation against the Royal 
Governor or officers of Massachusetts and the towns among 
us. And they say in closing, " We hope and trust that the 
inhabitants of this town will not be induced to part with 
their privileges for a little paltry herh drinks 

The inhabitants of Gorham felt the full weight of the re- 
sponsibilities resting on them, and bravely determined to be 
faithful to their sacred trusts ; faithful to themselves, and 
faithfid to posterity. They avowed themselves ready at all 
times to aid the cause of freedom. They kept up an able, 
active, and vigorous Committee of Correspondence, com- 
posed of men of wisdom, sagacity and firmness, such as John 
and Edmund Phinney, William Gorham, Solomon Lombard, 
Prince Davis, Josiah Davis, Benj. Skillings, Caleb Chase, 
Samuel Whitmore, Nathan Whitney, and others. These 
Committees of Correspondence and Vigilance, were estab- 



THE REVOLUTION. 110 

lished in nearly all the towns In the country, " and became 
the executive power of the patriotic party," producing the 
happiest concert of design and action throughout the Colo- 
nies. James Phinney, son of Capt. John, was Chairman of 
the Selectmen during most of the trying years of the Kevo- 
lution. Lieut, (afterwards Col.) Frost, was almost inces- 
santly occupied in military services and offices, at home, 
during the continuance of the Avar. 

In September, 1774, Solomon Lombard, Esq., was elected 
a Representative from Gorham to attend the Provincial 
Congress, and a large Committee, of which Nathan Whit- 
ney was Chairman, was raised, to draw up instructions for 
the llepresentative. The instructions Avere as follows : — 

" To Solomon Lombard, Esq : — 

Sir — Whereas you are chosen by the Town of Gorham, 
to represent them at a Great and General Court, or Assem- 
bly to be begun and held at Salem, on Wednesday, the 
fifth day of October next, We desire you to observe the 
following Instructions, viz : — 

1st. That you be punctual at the time of the Court's 
sitting, and there, so far as you may have influence, main- 
tain and support, to your utmost, all our Charter, and con- 
stitutional rights, and not give up one Iota or tittle of 
them to any supposable poAver on earth. 

2d. That you use your endeavors to obtain a A^ote of the 
House, for the re-establlshmcnt of the former Charter of 
this Province. 

3d. After the General Court Is adjourned, prorogued or 
dlssoh'ed, Ave instruct you to joyn Avith the other members, 
which compose the said Court, In forming themseh^es into a 
Provincial Congress, to be held Avhere by them, may be 
tho' best, In order to Consult, Debate, and Eesolve on meas- 
ures proper to be taken and pursued by the People of this 



120 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Province, in order to secure them in the enjoyment of their 
Charter, and Constitutional Rights as Freemen, and as 
Christians. 

Lastly. Trusting in your fidelity and wisdom, we doubt 
not but you'll pursue that course you may think best for 
the general good, at this alarming and distressing period. 
Wishing you success in all your undertakings, we are, &c., 
your humble servants. 

By Order of the Town. 

WILLIAM GORHAM, Toimi Clerhr 

In the early days of our town, the voters often gave in- 
structions to their Representatives on important questions, 
and the Representative felt bound to act according to his 
instructions. Mr. Lombard attended this Provisional Con- 
gress, and was among the most earnest in resisting the policy 
and acts of Parliament towards the Colonies. That Pro- 
vincial Congress recommended to the several towns not to 
pay the State, or Province taxes to Harrison Gray, the Roy- 
alist Treasurer of the Province, and in accordance with that 
recommendation, the people of Gorham, at a town meeting 
held Dec. 1st, 1773, " Voted, That Capt. Edmund Phinney 
be a Treasurer to receive the money that is, or may be due 
fi'om the several Collectors, or Constables of this town to 
the Province, and transmit the same to Henry Gardner, Esq., 
of Stow, agreeably to the recommendation of the Provincial 
Congress." From that time, the Royal Treasury received 
no more revenue from the town of Gorham. 

The Royalist Province Treasurer was incensed at the 
withholding the town's proportion of the State tax, and 
issued a peremptory demand for payment, whereupon a 
Town Meeting was called January 5, 1775, and it was 

Voted^ " That the Town will indemnify the Assessors, 
Constables, and Collectors, of Gorham, in their refusing to 



THE REVOLUTION. 121 

make return to Harrison Gray, Esq., on his warrant, and in 
paying the money to Col. Edmund Phinney, instead of Har- 
rison Gray." 

Voted, " To Lay out ten pounds in powder, balls, and 
flints, to increase the town stock." They also voted to 
adopt the association agreement of the Congress hoklcn at 
Philadelphia in t^eptcmbcr, 1774. 

Voted, " To choose a committee to take care that the 
plans of the Continental Congress be exactly eomplied u'itli.^^ 
They chose Capt. Briant IMorton a delegate to the Provin- 
cial Congress proposed to be holden at Cambridge. At the 
same meeting, the town manifested its sympathy for the suf- 
fering citizens of Boston, by choosing a large committee 
" to see that a quantity of wood is got to Falmouth, to send 
to the poor of Boston, by the last Aveek in January," 

The people of Gorham did not raise much corn or grain 
in 1774, and In April, 1775, an Informal town meeting was 
held, or rather a voluntary gathering of the citizens, who 
chose a committee ,to procure breadstulFs ; and at a regular 
town meeting, held May 4, 1775, it was 

Voted, " That whereas a quantity of Indian corn and 
flour was purchased at Falmouth, by Messrs. Hugh McLel- 
lan, Prince Davis, Joseph Gammon, Joslah Davis, and Dr. 
Stephen Swett, are brought into this town, that the town 
do establish the proceedings of said men, and receive the 
corn and flour, and become hable to pay the sterling cost of 
the same in Falmouth, and all reasonable expense In trans- 
porting the same to this town." 

Voted, " That the Selectmen, with Mr. Cary McLellan 
and Caleb Chase, be a committee to dispose of said corn, 
and receive pay for the same." 

The people were poor, and many of them barely able to 
obtain the necessaries of life. To prevent extortion, the 
toAvn found it necessary to limit the pi'ices which traders and 
16 



122 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

sellers should not exceed. Many indispensable articles — salt, 
corn, meats, shoes, and other things — were sold at prices 
fixed by a committee raised for that purpose. Though sore- 
ly pressed by the war, the patriotism of the town never 
flagged. From the first to the last day of the Revolution- 
ary struggle this town complied, and more than complied, 
with all the requisitions of Congress and the Province, for 
men, food, and clothing, for the army. At one time, the 
town raised four hundred dollars for the purchase of beef, 
and three hundred dollars to buy clothing for the army. At 
one town meeting the inhabitants voted £522 13s. 4d., for 
soldiers' bounties for the Continental army. The town voted 
$100 to each volunteer who would go to reinforce the army 
of General Washington, and f 1500 was voted for 15 men 
who volunteered, and .£100 lawful money was raised in a 
single year to supply the families of absent soldiers. 

The liberality of our citizens was not confined to our own 
town. We have already mentioned the furnishing of wood 
for the poor of Boston when the British anny had posses- 
sion of that place. When Portland was burned by a Brit- 
ish fleet in October, 1775, the people of Gorham sent teams 
and men to assist the distressed inhabitants of Falmouth in 
saving their eflPects, and they removed many of them to this 
town. 

At a town meeting held May 20, 1776, the Freemen of 
Gorham being genei'ally assembled, " Voted, Unanimously, 
that they would abide by, and with their lives and fortunes 
support, the Honorable Congress in the measure, if they 
think fit, for the safety of these United Colonies, to declare 
themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain." 
So early, and so constantly did the people of this town mani- 
fest their attachment to freedom. 

When the Declaration of Independence was issued, it 
was hailed with joy by our people, imanimously approved, 



THE REVOLUTION. 123 

and copied in full on the town records, where it now re- 
mains. 

October 7, 1776, the town " Voted, That the present 
House of Representatives, in conjun'ction with the Council 
of the State of Massachusetts Bay in New England, by- 
equal voice, consult, agree on, and enact such a form of 
Government, as on the fullest and most mature deliberation, 
they shall judge will most conduce to the Safety, Peace, 
and Happiness of the State, in all after generations and 
successions." 

Voted, " That the same be made public, for the inspection 
and perusal of the Inhabitants, before the ratification there- 
of by the Assembly." 

The town kept a committee to hunt up and report to the 
Town and State authorities, the names of all Tories, or per- 
sons susjDCcted of being inimical to the cause espoused by 
the Colonies. The Committee never found or reported but 
three men whom they considered Toi'ies, and the town Voted, 
" That Capt. John Stevenson be entered on the Selectmens' 
List, as a person inimical to this, and the United States in 
America." " Voted, That Mr. Mcintosh is ditto. Likewise 
Adam Shalloon, ditto." 

These votes were passed in May, 1777. At the next 
town meeting, held June 19, 1777, it was " Voted to recon- 
sider the vote passed at a legal town meeting on the 26th of 
May last, wherein Capt. John Stevenson was judged by 
this town Inimical to this and the United States of America." 
After the peace of 1783, at a town meeting it was " Voted, 
That no person, or persons, who have joined the enemy in 
the late war against these United States, (otherwise called 
Tories) shall be suffered to abide in Gorham." This vote 
showed the temper of the town, but it was not fully carried 
into effect. In after days, Hon. Wilham Tyng, a distin- 
guished Tory, came back and resided here till he died. 



124 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



CHAPTER XV. 

GORHAM SOLDIEES. 

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to make a list of 
all tlie Gorliam men who served in the Revolutionary War. 
Soldiers for the Continental army were sometimes furnished 
by the town, on the requisition of Congress, and the towns 
were called upon in classes. Thus on May 13, 1782, Class 
No. 5, for Gorham, furnished Nathaniel Wing, a soldier for 
three years. The class that was to procure the soldier, in 
this case, paid him " $20 in silver and six cows, the cows to 
be equal to cows in general." This agreement was signed 
by Ebenezer Murch, William INIcLellan, and Prince Davis. 

If any town did not furnish its quota of men, the same 
was charged against the town ; if the town furnished more 
than its proportion, the soldier was discharged, and a requi- 
sition made on some deficient town. Thus the following 
Resolve, touching this matter, was passed by the Legislature 
of Massachusetts, Nov. 1, 1782 : — 

" Resolve, directing the Treasurer to discharge the town 
of Gorham from the deficiency of one man, and directing 
Thomas Porter of Topsfield to procure a man in lieu thereof." 

Gn petition of Thomas Porter and Stephen Longfellow, 
" Resolved, That the Treasurer of this Commonwealth be, 
and hereby is directed to discharge the town of Gorham 
from the deficiency of one man, they stand charged with, 
upon the Resolve of the 2d of December, 1780 ; and in 



THE REVOLUTION. 



125 



order to prevent a deficiency in the quota of men, set on the 
town of Topsfield by the aforesaid Kesolve ; it is farther 
Eesolved, that Thomas Porter of Topsfield, one of said peti- 
tioners, be and hereby is directed to procure one able-bodied 
man to serve in the Continental army for three years, or 
during the war, before the 10th day of Dec. next In case 
of neglect or refusal, he, the said Porter, shall forfeit and 
pay a fine of eighty-five pounds, thirteen shillings." 

When the first conflict occurred at Lexington and Con- 
cord, a Gorham company of militia was already organized 
and armed. The following is the Roll of Capt. Hart Wil- 
liams' company in the 31st Regiment of Foot, commanded 
by Col. Edmund Phinney, as returned April 24, 1775. 

OFFICERS. 



Hart Williams, Captain. 
William McLellan, Lieut. 
Caiy ]McLellan, Ensign. 
John Perkins, Sergeant. 
John Phinney, Jr., " 
James Perkins, " 



David Watts, Sergeant. 
Silas Chadbourne, Corporal. 
Enoch Frost, " 

William Irish, 
Samuel Gammon, " 
Thomas Bangs, Drummer. 



Jeremiah Jones, Fifer. 



PRIVATES, 



Barnabas Bangs, 
Joseph Weymouth, 
Bickford Dyer, 
Thomas Gustin, 
Jeremiah Hodsdon, 
Daniel Maxwell, 
Thomas Pote, 
John Parker, 
Ezekiel Hatch, 



Philip Gammon, 
Ichabod Hunt, 
Eben'r Mitchell, 
Abijah Lewis, 
James Irish, 
Nathaniel Lombard, 
Butler Lombard, 
Owen Runnels, 
Theodore Rounds, 



126 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 

Paul Whitney, Elisha Cobb, 

George Robinson, James Jordan, 

Joseph McDonald, Nepthahm Whitney, 

Peletiah McDonald, Jonathan Sturgis, 

George Hunt, Prince Hamblen, 

George Waterhouse, John Whitney, 

Daniel Whitney, Joseph McLellan, 

Thomas Irish, Joseph Cressey, 

John Melvin, Silvanus Brown, 

James Morton, Solomon Green, 
Joshua Hamilton. 

Four of this company belonged to other towns, viz : — 

Abijah Lewis, Buxton, James Jordan, Falmouth. 

Theodore Rounds, Buxton. Joshua Hamilton, " 

Silas Chadbournc, who was a Corporal in Capt. Wil- 
liams' Company, became a Lieutenant in Col. Patten's Reg- 
iment, and served to the end of the war, as did also many 
other Gorham soldiers. Those who survived came home 
poor ; the Continental bills, with which they were paid, 
were so depreciated that seventy dollars of that currency 
was worth but one in silver. Some of our soldiers came 
home on foot from Hudson River, and were nine and ten 
days in performing the journey. They begged their food 
and lodging the whole distance. Several lived to an ad- 
vanced age, and received pensions from Government, Avhich 
made them comfortable, and in a measure indemnified them 
for early losses. A large number of Gorham men were in 
companies raised chiefly in Falmouth, Buxton, and Scarbor- 
ough. In April, 1776, twenty-one Gorham men were pri- 
vates in Capt. Paul Ellis' company, viz : — Ebenezer Murch, 
Joshua Crockett, William Paine, Joseph McDaniell, Richard 
Thurrell, Joseph Morse, Josiah AVhitncy, jMoscs Whitney, 
Ephraim Jones, Samuel Brown, Simeon Brown, John Em- 



THE REVOLUTION. 127 

ery, Daniel Emery, Daniel Wbitmore, John 'Haskell, Amos 
Rich, Joseph Rounds, Henry Jones, Benjamin A. Jordan, 
John Elder. 

Many soldiers from this town died in the army, some in 
the British prison ships, some escaped from the enemy by 
shrewd management and daring action. 

At one time, Lieut. Gary McLellan, with about ten other 
Gorham men, were in a privateer, and were captured by the 
British Captain Mowat, and carried into New York, and 
placed in a prison ship, where they suffered greatly by hun- 
ger, disease, and want of suitable air and clothing. Colo- 
nel Tyng, formerly Sheriff of Cumberland County, being a 
Loyalist, was at that time, with the British army in New 
York ; he found out our Gorham prisoners, and gave them 
many things for their comfort. The British officers com- 
pelled our men to get wood for their fires. On one occa- 
sion they sent Lieut. McLellan, with J. Lombard, J. Simp- 
son, and Wm. McLellan, Jr., (all Gorham men) to cut and 
bring a boat load of wood to an English war vessel ; they 
were under the guard of an orderly officer, and two armed 
privates. They went some miles up the Hudson river, and 
were proceeding to cut their wood. McLellan proposed to 
the Orderly, that if he would permit him to go under guard 
to a store, about a mile distant, he would buy some good 
liquor ; the officer consented, and with a British soldier as a 
o-uard, he went and purchased the spirit. McLellan took it 
to their camp, and found means to make known his plan of 
escape to Lombard, Simpson and McLellan, Jr. ; he cau- 
tioned them to drink sparingly during the evening. The 
evening came — the liquor was produced — they all drank. 
The Gorham men feigned intoxication and sleep. The Brit- 
ons drank till they were actually tipsy, and fell asleep. Mc- 
Lellan and his friends disarmed their English companions, 
took them to tlie boat, and rowed up the Hudson till they 



128 HISTORY OF GOEHAM. 

got within the American lines, and then delivered up their 
three prisoners, sold their boat, and came home to Gorham 
on foot. 

As the war proceeded the prices of goods became very 
-high, while the paper currency continued to depreciate, and 
it was almost impossible for the poor to obtain articles of 
prime necessity. In November, 1779, the town " chose James 
Gllkey, Lieut. Gary McLellan, and James Phlnney, a spe- 
cial Committee to fix prices of articles of consumption." 
At the same meeting they " voted 20 per cent, bounty on 
clothing, provided for the Continental soldiers." In 1781, 
the town " Resolved to get this town's quota of beef and 
clothing for the army, and those who furnish clothing, to 
have twenty shillings for a shirt, twelve shillings for a pair 
of shoes, seven shillings for a pair of stockings, and forty- 
two shilllnscs for a blanket." 



THE REVOLUTION. 129 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE PENOBSCOT EXPEDITION. 

TnE unfortunate expedition to Penobscot, in 1779, proved 
disastrous to the American arms. The faikxre of the enter- 
prise was attributed to the obstinacy or treachery of Com- 
modore Richard Saltonstall, of New Haven in Connecticut. 
He had nineteen vessels of war in his fleet, mounting 34-1 
guns. General Lovell, of Massachusetts, commanded the 
land forces ; Gen. Peleg Wadsworth was second in com- 
mand, and was undoubtedly the best officer in the American 
army in that adventure. There were about one thousand 
men on each side. On the 14th of August, a battle took 
place at Castine, then called Buygaduce, (usually pro- 
nounced Bagaduce.) The contest was short but decisive. 
The Americans were beaten and dispersed. Our officers and 
men fleeing across Penobscot Bay and river, landed at dif- 
ferent places and took up their march, or rather flight, 
towards the Kennebec, in small squads or singly ; they had 
to travel through a wild, uncultivated country, eighty or 
ninety miles. They suftered greatly from want of food, and 
various exposures and privations. Some perished in the 
forests on their way. 

The town of Gorham shared largely in that expedition ; 

and had her full share of the expense and sufferings. Capt. 

Alexander McLellan led a Gorham company. His soldiers 

suffered severely in those eastern woods. Capt. McLellan 

17 



130 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

himself was seized with a fever, brought on by fatigue and 
anxiety, and died on the fourth of October, a few days after 
his arrival home. The following is a copy of a letter, (the 
original is now lying before me, 1862,) written from Port- 
land, at the time of his starting from that place to go to 
Buygaduce : — 

" To the Selectmen of GorJiam : — 

Gentlemen : — I am obliged to carry off Austin Alden's 
Drum, or go without one. I desire you to pay him for it, 
as I think the Selectmen are obliged to find one for me ; I 
think the Drum is well worth Ten pounds, ten shillings, old 
way, as things went seven years ago. 

Y^ Hubi ServS 

ALEX^ M^LELLAN, Capt. 
Falmouth, July 15, 1779." 



EOLL OF CAPT. ALEXANDER McLELLAN'S COMPANY, 

In Colonel Jonathan Whitney^s Eegiment, in the Penobscot Expedition. 

OFFICERS. 

Alexander McLellan, Cajit. John Emery, Sergeant. 
Ebenezer Murch, 1st Lieut. Daniel Whitney, Corporal. 
Joseph Knight, 2t? Lieut. Jeremiah Hodsdon, " 
James Irish, Sergeant. Samuel Files, " 

George Strout, " Joseph McDonald, " 

Stephen Whitney, Sergeant. John Lakeman, Drummer. 

PRIVATES. 

Edmund Phinney, (Jr. ?) John Blanchard, 
Benjamin Haskell, John Gammon, 

Moses Hanscom, Samuel Murch, 



THE REVOLUTION. 



131 



John Phlnney, 
Nathaniel Bacon, 
Wm. McLellan, 
Lazarus Rand, 
James Murch, 
Richard Lombard, 
Prince Hamblen, 
John Parker, 
Josiah Swctt, 
Peter White, 
John Mcserve, 
William Murch, 
Edward Wilson, 
Zachariah Weston, 
John Akers, 
Benjamin Stevens, 
Ebenezer Whitney, 
Benjamin Roberts, 
Charles McDonald, 
Joseph Irish, 
William Meserve, 
Uriel Whitney, 



Seth Harding, 
Gershom Davis, 
Daniel Whitmore, 
Abner Jordan, 
Moses Jordan, 
John Elwell, 
William Irish, 
James Stubbs, 
John Davis, 
Samuel Rounds, 
William Files, 
Joshua Davis, 
William Wood, 
Abel Whitney, 
Stephen Powell, 
Asa Thurlo, 
John Harmon, 
James Huntress, 
Samuel Whitney, 
Isaac Chase, 
James Watson, 
Stephen Sawyer, 
John Smith. 



Joseph Jones, 

The old soldiers of Gorham, who lived till after the United 
States Pension Acts were passed, received quite an amount 
of money in the aggregate, which greatly benefitted them, 
as most of them had but little property. 

The following persons in Gorham received the benefit of 
the Pension Acts, viz : — 



O FF ICERS 



Capt. Oliver Hunt, 
" Josiah Jenkins, 



Lieut. William McLellan, 
" Ebenezer Storer, 



132 



HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



Capt. Joshua Swett, Lieut. Timothy Bacon, 

Lieut. Silas Chadbourne. 



PRIVATES 



Isaac Whitney, 
John Darhng, 
Stephen Whitney, 
Alhson Libby, 
Jonathan Stone, 
Zebulon Whitney, 
Edward Webb, 
John Watson, 
George Waterhouse, 
Thomas Irish, 
Matthias Murch, 
Daniel Whitney, 
Edward Libby, 



Moses Fogg, 
William Files, 
Prince Hamblen, 
Philip Horr, 
John Phinney, 
Samuel Files, 
Ebenezer Files, 
James Morton, 
Thomas Morton, 
John Blake, 
Joseph Blake, 
Isaac Irish, 
William Burton. 



Ebenezer Storer, Esq., drew a treble pension, one a^Lieu- 
tenant, one as Paymaster, and one as Clothier of his Regi- 
ment, having performed the duties of all said offices at the 
same time. Lieut. Storer was a native of Wells, Maine ; he 
was not seventeen years of age when he enlisted, April 17, 
1776, as a non-commissioned officer in Col. Phinney's Regi- 
ment. He served till December, 1776, and then received an 
Ensi2;n's commisson in the 12tli Massachusetts Rerriment, 
commanded by Col. Samuel Brewer ; served there till 1779, 
when he was transferred to the 2d Massachusetts Refriment, 
as first Lieut, and Paymaster ; this Regiment was under 
Lieut. Col. Commandant Ebenezer Sprout, and continued 
in that Regiment till the peace of 1783. Mr. Storer was 
one of the society of the Cincinnati. He was highly re- 
spected in our town, and was a gentleman of military tastes, 



THE REVOLUTION. 133 

and polished manners. He closed his useful life at Gorham, 
January 20, 1846, aged 87 years. 



MILITAKY. 

It is not possible to ascertain when the first military or- 
ganization took place in this town. The settlers must have 
had guns and ammunition when they came here, both as a 
means of defense against wild animals and to procure meat 
for their own living. Moose, deer, and bears, were numerous, 
and for some years furnished the people with most of their 
animal food. It soon also became necessary to defend them- 
selves a2:ainst savages. Their mutual danji-ers would lead 
them to combine for their common safety ; a leader or com- 
mander would then be necessary, and we find Mr. John Phin- 
ney the acknowledged head or captain when there were not 
more than twenty men in the township. Whether Captain 
Phinney ever had a commission I have not learned, but it is 
presumed he had one, as he ultimately commanded quite a 
company of armed men, and made returns of his force. 
Scouts in small parties were sent out to take or kill Indians. 
These looked to Capt. Phinney for general plans and orders ; 
and when in the Indian war, Massachusetts furnished this 
township eleven soldiers for protection, they were placed 
under Capt. John Phinney's command. There was a large 
military company, over Avhich Edmund Phinney was Captain, 
previous to the commencement of the Revolutionary war. 
Until 1789, there was but one militia company in Gorham. 
During that year that company was divided ; a third com- 
pany was formed not long afterwards, and since 1800, com- 
panies of cavalry, light Infantry and riflemen, have been 
organized. When the militia system was changed, or 



134 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

rather abandoned, some twenty years ago, these companies 
ceased to exist. Some five or six years since, a volunteer 
company was formed, which was furnished with arms by 
the State. They called themselves the " Gorham Light 
Guard." This company languished and died, and their arms 
have been surrendered to the State. The days of training 
and general muster have passed away, and the only organ- 
ized company in town is an efficient Fire Company in our 
principal village, who work an excellent fire engine success- 
fully. In the former part of this century, this town was the 
place for Regimental musters, and sometimes a whole Brig- 
ade convened at Gorham village, and passed two or three 
successive days in military exercise. These musters were 
the grand holidays of the year for our young people, and 
the sellers of drinks, fruits, and confectionary. The moral 
effect of these trainings and musters was never salutary. 
They sowed and nourished the seeds of intemperance. 



i 



POLITICS. 135 



CHAPTEE XVII. 

POLITICS. 

The people of this town have always exhibited a lively in- 
terest in State and National politics. In days of general party 
excitement, they have not been backward in fi-eely express- 
ing their opinions of men and measures. Matters of Admin- 
istration have sometimes been discussed, not only Avith 
warmth, but with asperity and prejudice. Yet our citizens 
have always been patriotic, always loved their country and 
form of government. As long ago as 1765, when the Brit- 
ish Stamp act was passed, our people took a deep interest in 
that measure, and were unanimous in their condemnation of 
the act. When the exciting scenes of our Revolution and 
Independence occurred, our townsmen entered into them 
with earnest zeal. During those years, and through Wash- 
ington's presidency, they were nearly all united in political 
opinions ; and when party lines were more distinctly drawn, 
in the days of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, almost 
all our voters were of the Federal party, and, though there 
were animated contests, the Democratic ticket rarely had the 
majority till after the administration of Mr. Monroe. When 
the Constitution of Massachusetts was formed, it had few 
opposers here. When Jay's Treaty with England was 
negotiated, nearly all our townsmen were in favor of its 
ratification. Mr. Jefferson's administration was strongly 
condemned. Party spirit ran high, and nearly all Mr. Jef- 



136 HISTORY OF GORIIAM. 

ferson's acts, even that wise and highly beneficial one — the 
purchase of Louisiana — was strongly disapproved by the 
dominant party in Gorham. The Embargo, especially, was 
considered an atrocious act ; that it bore heavily on our com- 
mercial people cannot be questioned. A toAvn meeting was 
held here, and our voters expressed a strong disapprobation 
of the measure. 

At a town meeting, held on the 29tli day of August, 1808, 
among other things, it was Voted, "That the Honorable 
Stephen Longfellow, Captain David Harding, Jr., Captain 
Silvanus Davis, Doctor Dudley Folsom, and John Park 
Little, Esq., be a committee to prepare a petition to the 
President of the United States, praying him to suspend the 
embargo." That committee presented the following petition. 

" To the President of the United States : — 

The inhabitants of the town of Gorham, in legal town 
meeting assembled, beg leave respectfully to represent that 
they are fully aware of the indispensable necessity of sup- 
porting, at all times, the laws enacted by the government of 
their choice ; under this impression, they have refrained 
from expressing their most ardent desire to have the Embai-go 
removed. Although they are an agricultural town, yet their 
proximity to Portland, the most considerable commercial 
town in the District, has, for many years past, led them con- 
siderably into trade with the people there. Large quantities 
of Beef, Butter, Lumber, &c., have been annually transport- 
ed from this place to that, by means of which the inhabitants 
of this town have made a comfortable living, and have ac- 
cumulated property, but, since the embargo has taken place 
and commerce has been stopped, they sensibly feel the inti- 
mate connection there is between agriculture and commerce, 
indeed they find it will be almost impossible for the former to 
exist without the latter. Debts incurred by them previous to 



POLITICS. 137 

the embargo, which would have been discharged wuth ease if 
commerce had flourished as formerly, they now find cannot 
be paid at all because they cannot possibly obtain money 
enough to discharge their taxes, which are continually ac- 
cumulating ; the surplus of their agricultural productions, 
and their lumber, are left to perish for want of a market ; 
they therefore pray that the Embargo (which they think is 
the sole cause of their distress) may be suspended, and that 
your Excellency would do everything in your power to effect 
so desirable an object." 

The town voted that the Selectmen forward the foreo-oins; 
petition to the President of the United States immediately. 
Numerous petitions from other towns, where the Federal 
party were in the ascendancy, were gotten up and sent to 
the President for the same purpose. 

Congress laid the embargo, Dec. 22, 180T, " to preserve 
our neutrality, the Honor of our Flag, and the Eights of 
sailors inviolate." England and France, by most unright- 
eous and belligerent Decrees and Orders in Council, had 
subjected neutral vessels to search, seizure, and confiscation. 
England had impressed many American seamen, and held 
them in galling bondage. She declared she would never 
surrender the right of searching our vessels, and taking 
from them any persons who had ever been British sub- 
jects. We have lived to see her surrender that so termed 
right. 

There was a town meeting held on the 30th day of Jan- 
uary, 1809, " for the purpose of considering the present dis- 
tressed situation of our National aflPairs." Hon. Stephen 
Longfellow, Doctor Dudley Folsom, Eev. Reuben Nason, 
John P. Little, Esq., and Deacon Thomas Cross, were chosen 
a Committee to prepare Resolutions to present to the town 
at an adjourned meeting. The meeting was adjourned to 
February 2d, 1809. The Committee then reported the fol- 
18 



138 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

lowing Resolutions, which were unanimously accepted by 
the town meeting : — 

" Resolved^ That we deem it a right vested in us by the 
Constitution of our country, peaceably to assemble together, 
and freely to express our sentiments of the measures of 
government, and when grievances are felt to seek proper 
redress. 

Resolved^ That we consider the present state of our coun- 
try as calling loudly for the exercise of this right. 

Resolved, That we consider the measures of the National 
Government, in relation to commerce, and particularly in the 
several Acts Laying and enforcing an Embargo, oppressive, 
unconstitutional, and threatening the most dangerous conse- 
quences. 

Resolved, That we consider the prosperity of every class 
of citizens, and especially in the northern States, as essen- 
tially dependent on commerce, and those acts of the govern- 
ment are arbitrary and oppressive, by which our intercourse 
with foreign nations is totally suspended, and our domestic 
intercourse laid under such restrictions, as renders it, in all 
cases hazardous, and in most instances, impracticable to pur- 
sue it, while we fully believe neither our relations with for- 
eign powers, nor national honor, nor wise policy, have de- 
manded such sacrifices. 

Resolved, That we deem it unconstitutional for Congress, 
to whom is delegated only a power to regulate commerce, to 
destroy it, or prohibit it by law, for an unlimited term of 
time ; that we consider the property of individuals by the 
laws aforesaid, to expose to unreasonable search, seizure, and 
forfeiture, excessive bonds required, and undue penalties ex- 
acted, contrary to express provisions in the Constitution, 
that exorbitant power over the lives and fortunes of the 
people, vested in Revenue and Military officers, and the dic- 
tatorial power, with which the President is clothed, are not 



POLITICS. 139 

consistent with the Constitution, nor the principles of a free 
government. 

Hesohed, That we view with alarming apprehensions the 
contemplated establishment of a Large Army in time of 
peace, to be placed at the uncontrolled disposal of the Pres- 
ident, while in history we trace the downfall of the liberties 
of Greece, Rome, and almost every other free State to sim- 
ilar measures, while in our own time we have seen how 
much one man, with a soldiery devoted to him, has done 
towards enslaving the world ; and while we consider the 
dreadful purposes, which disguised ambition, even in those 
who have made the highest pretensions to patriotism has 
conceived and effected, we cannot forbear to express our be- 
lief that this measure is portentous and hostile to the Con- 
stitution and liberties of our country. 

Resolved, That we entertain a lively sense of the benefits 
which the faithful administration of the government by 
Washington and Adams, and their wise policy, were instru- 
mental in procuring us, and that we consider the evils we 
now endure in a great measure occasioned by a dereliction 
of the policy adopted and pursued by them. 

Resolved, That we highly approve the patriotic and spir- 
ited exertions of the minority in Congress, to preserve the 
Constitution and protect the interest of the nation. 

Resolved, That we view with approbation, the conduct of 
those officers in the Revenue Department, who choosing to 
sacrifice private emolument rather than be instrumental in 
enforcing oppressive laws, have resigned their offices, and 
that we consider their conduct worthy of imitation. 

Resolved, That, as we despair of obtaining redress from 
the National Government, a respectful petition be presented 
to the Legislature of this CommouAvealth, praying that they 
will adopt such measures as they in their wisdom shall think 
best, to remove present grievances, and prevent those evils 
which threaten our liberties and fortunes." 



140 HISTOKY OF GORHAM. 

Such a petition as recommended by the foregoing Ee- 
solves, and embodying similar complaints, was sent to the 
Legislature of Massachusetts. But Massachusetts herself 
could do nothing but protest, resolve, and petition. At the 
same meeting the town chose a Committee of Safety and 
Correspondence. 

The continued agressions of the Enfflish brought on the 
war which was declared by the United States, June 18, 
1812, against Great Britain. That war was as distasteful to 
the Federal party as was the embargo. A majority of the 
people of this town was strongly opposed to the measure. 
Town meetings were held, and very decided Resolutions 
were passed condemnatory of the Avar, and the administra- 
tion of the General Government. They believed the war 
unnecessary, and menacing ruin to themselves and posterity. 
That the Government at Washington was weak, distracted, 
and corrupt. Few Gorham men entered the army of the 
United States in the war of 1812-15. Gov. Strong de- 
clined to place the State militia under United States' officers. 
Some companies of soldiers were marched to Portland, for 
the defence of that place, Avhen an invasion was apprehended. 
Gen. James Irish's Brigade were ordered to Portland, and 
went there in 1814. The militia of Gorham, consisting of 
four companies of Infantry, and one of Cavalry, composed 
a part of said Brigade. These companies were commanded 
by Captains Toppan Robie, Barnabas Higglns, Jacob P. 
Bettes, and the company of Light Infantry, by Capt. Robert 
McLellan. These troops did not long remain in Portland ; 
some three months, the larger part not longer than fifteen or 
twenty days ; this service, however, enabled many of these 
soldiers to obtain Land Warrants under an Act of Congress, 
passed a few years ago. The British did not land, but their 
fleet hovered awhile near the coast, and gathered some sup- 
plies from the islands. No injury was done to Portland, 



POLITICS. 



141 



except the expense incurred by the alarm. Many families 
moved their most valuable effects to Gorham for greater se- 
curity. 

The following is the Roll of Capt. Ilobie's company that 
marched to Portland : — 

OFFICERS. 

Toppan Robie, Capt., Nathaniel Hatch, Lieut., 

AYilliam Frost, Ensign. 



PRIVATES. 



Samuel G. Scribner, 
George Knio;ht, 
Samuel Brown, 
Ephraim Bragdon, 
Isaac Coolbroth, 
George Fogg, 
Daniel Hunt, 
Seth Harding, Jr., 
Josiah Jenkins, 
Cotton Lincoln, 
Lemuel Libby, Jr., 
James McLellan, Jr., 
David Burnell, 
Perez Burr, 
Nathaniel Crockett, 
William Edwards, 
Daniel H. Frost, 
John Harding, 3d, 
Seward Merrill, 
Nathan Penfield, 
Joshua Roberts, 
Joseph Rice, 



James Babb, 
Luther Davis, 
Joshua Freeman, 
Nathan Hanson, 
Gardiner Alden, 
Nalium Lord, 
Joseph Lombard, Jr., 
Moses Murch, 
Samuel Paine, 
Robert Harding, 
Joseph Harding, 
Elisha Irish, 
Philip Larrabee, 
Darius Libby, 
Wm. McLellan, Jr., 
Samuel F. Mosher, 
Alexander Phinney, 
Lemuel Rice, 
Caleb Seaver, 
George Strout, 
David Warren, 
Edmund Gammon, 



142 



HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



Abner P. Towle, 
David Waterliouse, 
John Hanscom, 
Daniel Fogg, 
Nathaniel Rice, 
John McQuillan, 
John Farnham, 
Levi Brown, 



William Blanchard, 
Uriah Gibbs, 
Samuel Roberts, 
Moses Rice, 
Ai Staples, 
Thomas Worster, 
Thomas S. Robie, 
John Rice, 



John Cressey. 



I have not been able to obtain the Rolls of the other Gor- 
ham companies. The war of 1812, was terminated by the 
Treaty of Peace of Dec, 1814. This town immediately felt 
the influence of reviving commerce ; trade increased, and 
wealth was augmented. The population of this town in- 
creased but slowly, having no large manufacturing establish- 
ments, and the land being nearly occupied for farming ; and 
in the present mode of conducting agricultural pursuits, our 
farms cannot well support more inhabitants. Although the 
population has constantly increased, yet the increase has 
been so light that we have but about one thousand more 
souls than there were in town seventy years ago. 



SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 143 



CHAPTEE XVIII. 

SEPAEATION OF MAINE AND OTHER MATTERS. 

Maine being entirely disjoined from Massachusetts, it was 
always more or less inconvenient for the people of the Dis- 
trict to have a political connection. This evil was felt at an 
early period. At a town meeting held December 5, 1785, 
it was Voted " That it is the opinion of this toA\Ti that it 
would be for the interest of the counties of York, Cumber- 
land, and Lincoln," (the whole of the District of Maine) 
"^to be incorporated into a separate State;" and Edmund 
Phinney, Esq., and Stephen Longfellow, Esq., were chosen 
delegates to a convention, " to be holden at Falmouth (Port- 
land) on the first Wednesday of January, 1786, to consider 
of the expediency of a separate State." After some discus- 
sion the convention adjourned. 

At a town meeting in April, 1786, " Voted, to choose dele- 
gates to the convention to be held at Falmouth in Septem- 
ber next, to consider the grievances the inhabitants of the 
Counties of York, Cumberland, and Lincoln, labor under, 
and to adopt and pursue some orderly and peaceable meas- 
ure to obtain relief;" this vote was 110 in the affirmative 
and but two in the negative. Hon. William Gorham, Col. 
Edmund Phinney, and Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Esq., were 
chosen delegates. The Convention met in September, and 
organized by electing Hon. William Gorham President of 
the Convention, and Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Clerk. The 



144 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

question of separation was earnestly discussed, but there ap- 
jDears to have been nothing farther done at that time. The 
town again voted on this subject in 1792, 75 in favor of 
separation and 16 against it. In 1793, Stephen Longfellow, 
Josiah Thacher, and Gary McLellan, were chosen delegates 
to a convention to consider the expediency of separation. 
The question was again voted upon in 1795, when there 
were 51 for the measure and seven against it. This small 
vote would seem to indicate that the people in general felt 
little interest in the matter, or had become wearied in their 
efforts to make Maine a separate State. The affair was 
revived with much spirit in 1815. The Massachusetts Leg- 
islature had consented to a separation, provided that five 
ninths of the votes in Maine should be in favor of it. A 
larg-e Convention of deleo-ates assembled at Brunswick in 
October. This Convention embraced many of the most 
able men of Maine. The delegates from Gorham were 
Lothrop Lewis, David Harding, Jr., and Samuel Stephen- 
son. A constitution was formed and submitted to the peo- 
ple, but It failed of receiving the five-ninths of the votes 
required for its adoption. The vote in Gorham, on this 
trial, was 127 for separation and 180 against. In 1819, 
another and successful effort was made to dissolve the polit- 
ical relations between Massachusetts and the District of 
Maine. A large and able Convention met in Portland to 
form a Constitution. The delegates from Gorham were 
Lothrop Lewis, James Irish, and Joseph Adams. The pres- 
ent Constitution of Maine was then formed ; the vote In Gor- 
ham was 183 in favor of separation and 95 against the meas- 
ure, and the final vote on adopting the Constitution was 94 
for it and one against it. 

The vote in Gorham on the acceptance of the Constitution 
of Massachusetts in May, 1780, was 47 for, and six against, 
its adoption. 



SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 145 

CUSTOMS AND MANNERS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 

Most of the settlers of Gorham, like the pioneers in other 
new places, were poor. Hard, continuous labor v/as requi- 
site to supply ordinary food and clothing. Most, if not all, 
of them lived in log houses, with few articles of furniture 
or convenience ; their barns, or rather hovels, were small, 
rude structures of logs, the roofs covered with bark, or at 
best with long; shingles, without boards. These shingles 
were split frona straight-grained white pine trees ; the pine 
being the lightest, most durable, and easiest wood to work, 
or manufacture, that grew in our forests. The hardships 
the settlers endured were well calculated to bring forth and 
mature vigor of body and mind ; exposed to mutual dangers, 
and feeble when alone, they were compelled to assist each 
other, and to watch and labor together, and thus neighborly 
kindness and hospitality would of course be promoted ; they 
were always welcomed to each other's houses and tables ; 
and they loaned their food, implements, and animals, with- 
out stint, or hope of pecimiary reward. They had few holi- 
days. Independence Day had not yet come. The usual 
Colonial Thanksgiving, near the close of the year, was their 
chief festival. They made no accovmt of Christmas, and 
but little notice was taken of the King's birth-day. There 
were some families who made extra cake, and had little par- 
ties on May Election day. The raising of buildings, and the 
annual militia trainings, were almost the only occasions wdiich 
called the young men together. Some autumnal huskings 
of the larger farmers called out the neighbors, and they were 
usually seasons of hilarity and good cheer ; songs, stories, 
and grog, were the customary accompaniments of the husk- 
ing work ; when that was completed, a bountiful and good 
supper followed ; when this was ended, the young men and 
girls, who had assisted in preparing and serving out the 
19 



146 HISTOEY OF GORHAM. 

supper, indulged in rustic dances, performed to the music of 
some tunes sung or whistled. Sometimes there were quilt- 
ing; meetino;s of maidens who assisted in the making: of the 
quilt, and not unfrequently young men would gather in the 
evening and have sj)orts, plays, or dancing. There was but 
little distinction on account of rank or wealth. The neigh- 
borly calls of older women, or married ladies, were made in 
the afternoon, singly or in small parties ; the visitors remained 
to tea, or supper, and returned to their homes early. The 
usual mode of conveyance, when sleighs could not be used, 
was on horseback, and not unfrequently the good wife rode 
on the same horse, seated behind her husband. On these 
visits, females commonly had their knitting or sewing, work 
with them ; all were too poor to spend much time in idleness. 

In all the schools kept by females, the girls were taught 
knitting and sewing, as well as reading and spelling ; once 
a week, generally on Saturday, all the scholars were ex- 
amined and instructed in the shorter Catechism. The dress 
of our ancestors was plain, durable clothing, mostly home 
made. The men and boys wore woolen frocks and breeches, 
dyed with yellow oak or hemlock bark ; the females, short 
loose gowns and skirts, of woolen, colored blue or red, with 
checked blue and white aprons ; all manufactured at home. 
Their table coverings and napkins, as well as sheetings 
and shirting cloths, were made of flax, raised on their 
land and spun, woven, and bleached by the mothers and 
daughters. 

They had few superfluities. Their chief agricultural pro- 
ducts were corn and hay. Wheat, oats, rye, beans and peas 
throve well ; peas, especially, were much used in making 
pea broth or soup. It is said that the first crop ever raised 
in Gorham, was one of peas. Captain John Phinney raised 
on the first land he cleared, eighty bushels of peas on a small 
piece of land, in 1736. Mr. Phinney also raised, the same 



SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 147 

year, several cart loads of watermelons ; tliese products were 
grown on newly burned land. Potatoes were but scantily 
cultivated for tlie first forty years. The principal bread Avas 
made of a mixture of corn and rye meal, in about equal pro- 
portions. Wlieaten bread became common after a few years. 
During many years, the settlers had but little animal food ; 
their meat was nearly all obtained from the forest, and con- 
sisted of the flesh of INIoose, Deer, and some smaller ani- 
mals. Moose and deer were numerous and easily killed. 
They were found on the Gorham hills for thirty or forty 
years after the first settlement of the town. It is said the 
last moose seen in town, was on a hill east of Black Brook 
road, near the land of Mr. Isaac Eichardson. AVolves 
abounded, and much annoyed the settlers ; these animals 
disappeared, as is usual, when the deer became extinct. 
At some seasons of the year, salmon and other fish were 
abundant in Presumpscot, Stroudwater, and Little Rivers. 
Swine and poultry soon came into use. Samp, or hominy, 
made of cracked corn, and well boiled, was a common dish, 
as well as baked beans, and Indian pudding. Tea or coffee 
was little used till after the Revolutionary war ; bread and 
milk, or hasty pudding and milk, made the common evening 
meal. Home-made beer was generally drank. After some 
years, apples were plenty, and cider took the place of beer. 
Flip, a compound of beer, rum, and sweetening, heated, and 
caused to foam by the insertion of a hot iron, was a fashion- 
able drmk, down to the commencement of the present cen- 
tury. 

After the Revolutionary war closed, the town increased 
rapidly in population and material wealth. Customs and 
manners, about the same time, underwent quite a change. 
The facility with which imported articles could be obtained 
produced many alterations in dress and way of living. Lux- 
ury kept full pace with income. An improved style of 



148 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

building was visible. Articles of dress, household furni- 
ture, and food, that would by our first settlers been deemed 
superfluities, soon became to be considered necessaries of 
living. Returned soldiers, who had been in the army, (and 
almost all the middle-aged men of our town were such) 
brought home new habits and customs. The Sabbath was 
less strictly observed ; the men were not so constant in their 
attendance on divine worship ; there was a greater laxity of 
morals; intoxication and profanity were more open and fre- 
quent. Enterprise was stimulated and debts more freely 
contracted. Many Gorham people were interested in com- 
merce, and not a few of our citizens became mariners, and 
we had skilful masters and mates of vessels, as well as ordi- 
nary seamen, and several were part owners of ships. The 
embargo nearly destroyed these pursuits and investments, by 
forcing our seamen to engage in agricultural or mechanical 
business, and latterly Gorham has numbered but few sailors. 
There was a custom prevailing in most of pur towns, 
seventy years ago, when new people came to settle, or be- 
come citizens, to warn them out of town, unless they pur- 
chased real estate, or Avere reputed to be persons of property. 
This course was taken to prevent such from becoming 
chargeable to the town. They were warned to leave in a 
specified time ; if such persons remained after the notice, the 
town was not liable for their support, as they could gain no 
leo-al residence. So late as 1790, the followins^ Order or 
Warrant was issued by the Selectmen, and acted upon, and 
recorded with the return of the Constable on the Town 
Records : — 

|l. s.| Cumberland, ss. 

To the Constable of the Town of Gorham, Greeting : — 

You are in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts, directed to warn and give notice unto Moses Poland, 



SEPARATION OF MAINE, ETC. 149 

Levi Dyer, Seth Fogg, David Vickery, Nathaniel Edwards, 
Jr., Joshua Edwards, Ebenezer Carsley, Jonathan Bragdon, 
Moses Jordan, Alexander Stimpson, Malachi Waterman, 
John Melvin, Joseph Young, Stephen Johnson, John Chase, 
and Richard Hines, who have lately come into this town 
for the purpose of abiding therein, not having obtained the 
town's consent therefor, that they depart the limits thereof, 
with their children and others under their care, within fif- 
teen days. And of this Precept, with your doings thereon, 
you are to make return into the office of the Clerk of the 
town, within twenty days next coming, that such further 
proceedings may be had in the Premises as the Law directs. 
Given under our hands and seals at Gorham aforesaid, this 
twelfth day of June, A. D. 1790. 

JAMES PHINNEY, J Selectmen 

SAMUEL ELDER, [ of 

STEPHEN LONGFELLOW, ) Gorham. 



mCORPOKATED SOCIETIES.— FREE MASONS. 

In 1821, several Free Masons, residing in Gorham and 
Saccarappa, met at Gorham, organized themselves, and pro- 
cured a brother from Portland to deliver some Masonic Lec- 
tures. A petition, signed by Reuben Nason, Daniel Thomp- 
son, Samuel Stephenson, James Codman, Daniel Hunt, 
James Haskell, Seth Webb, Archelaus Lewis, Nathaniel 
Partridge, Benjamin Poland, Simon Cutter, Nathaniel War- 
ren, Joshua Berry, Aaron Winslow, Timothy Bacon, Rufus 
Rich, Henry Babb, George Small, Lewis Pease, John Bix- 
by, Levi Tole, Luther Fitch, and John Warren, was pre- 
sented to the Grand Lodge of Maine, for a Charter to erect 



150 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

them and their associates, into a Lodge of Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons. A Charter was granted under the hand of 
Simon Greenleaf, Grand Master, January 10, 1822, bearing 
the name of Harmony Lodge, being No. 38 among the 
Lodo-es in this State. The new Lodg-e chose Eev. Eeuben 
Nason, then Principal of Gorham Academy, its first Mas- 
ter, Capt. Daniel Thompson, Senior Warden, Col. Samuel 
Stephenson, Junior Warden, Seth Webb, Esq., Secretary. 
Harmony Lodge was incorporated a body politic by the 
Legislature, Jan. 27, 1823. And it was installed in ample 
form the next September, by the R. W. Simeon Greenleaf, 
Grand Master of Masons in Maine. The Association flour- 
ished till the anti-masonic frenzy swept over the country in 
1827-33. Harmony Lodge, like many others then, yielded 
to the blast, and ceased active operations for a season. 
When the fanaticism died out. Harmony Lodge revived, 
and became more vigorous than ever, and at the present 
time it is in a state of great prosperity. A few years ago, 
the Westbrook brethren, having become numerous, obtained 
a Charter for a new Lodge at Saccarappa. 

The following named jiersons have been Masters of the 
Lodge in Gorham, viz : — Reuben Nason, Samuel Stephen- 
son, Josiah Pierce, George L. Darling, before its suspension. 
Since its revival, Josiah Pierce, William Silla, William 
Burton, Merrill Thomas, Thomas J. Hasty, Jonathan I. Ste- 
vens, and Daniel C. Emery, have been its Masters. 



INSUKANCE COMPANIES. 

There are three incoporated Mutual Fire Lisurance Com- 
panies in Gorham. 



SEPARATION OP MAINE, ETC. 151 

The Maine Mutual Fire Insurance Company was Incor- 
porated in 1828. Hon. Toppon Eobie was its first Presi- 
dent, and Jacob S. Smith, Esq., its first Secretary. 

The Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company was incorporated in 1839. Both these companies 
have done a large business, and paid their losses promptly. 
Each company has issued many thousands of Policies, and 
paid out many thousands of dollars, which have greatly 
benefitted the recipients avIio have suffered losses by fire. 

At the present time, (1862) Charles Humphrey, of Yar- 
mouth, is President of the Maine Mutual Company, John 
A. Waterman, Esq., Secretary, and Dr. John Waterman 
Treasurer. Rev. John E. Baxter is President of the Far- 
mers' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and 
Josiah Pierce, Esq., its Secretary and Treasurer. 

" The Gorham Farmers' Club" was incorporated in 1861, 
with power to insure real and personal estate of fiu-mers 
against damage by fire. 



There is an active and intelligent Fire Company In our 
our principal village, bearing the name of the " Relief En- 
gine Company, No. 1." They have an excellent engine, 
wliich has done valuable service at fires. 



TEMPERANCE, 



The Temperance cause has received much attention in 
Gorham. Rev. James Lewis, James Smith, Esq., and a few 
others, organized a " Total Ahstinence Society" in 1822. 
The Society grew rapidly, and a large number signed the 



152 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

pledge ; and Temperance societies have ever since existed 
in town. Many have been reclaimed from drinking intoxi- 
cating liquors, and for many years very little alcoholic drink 
has been sold. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 153 



CHAPTER XIX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, 

Joseph Akees was one of the early proprietors of Nar- 
ragansett No. 7. He came from Sandwich, Cape Cod. Af- 
ter living here for many years, the family removed to West- 
brook, where their descendants now reside. John Akers, 
son of Joseph, had a large family born in that town. 



ALDEN. 



Austen Alden, a lineal descendant of John Alden, one of 
the first emigrants from England to Plymouth, and the 
friend of Captain Standish, was born in Marshfield, Massa- 
chusetts, March 25, 1729. His wife, Salome Lombard, was 
born at Truro, June 10, 1734. They were married at Gor- 
ham in 1756, he having settled here in 1755. He made his 
farm about half a mile from the meeting house, and this 
place has ever remained in the family, and is the farm now 
occupied by his great grandson, Henry Alden. Austen 
Alden served in the French and English war at the time 
Canada surrendered to the British. In 17G1, he, with many 
more Xew England soldiers, went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, 
to erect fortifications. That was a hard service ; they had 
hard usage and labored under a severe, and cruel, and exact- 
20 



154 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

ing English officer. Mr. Alden returned to Gorham In 1762. 
In 1777, he was first Lieutenant in Capt. Nathan Watkins' 
company, and was an able and fixlthful officer. Mr. Alden 
was one of the early Deacons of the Congregational Church 
in this town. He was chosen Town Clerk of Gorham in 
1778, and re-elected every year till his death in 1804. He 
ever sustained an unblemished character. 

Josiah Alden, son of Deacon Austen Alden, was elected 
Town Clerk of Gorham on the decease of his father, and 
was annually re-chosen till 1815. He was also Town Treas- 
urer from 1806 to 1815, inclusive. Josiah Alden died Nov. 
8, 1834, leaving several descendants. His son, Gardiner 
Alden, who lived with him, died Sept. 8, 1831. 



BACON. 

The Bacon family came from Barnstable to Gorham. 
Lieut. Timothy Bacon was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
army ; he enlisted when only sixteen years of age. He be- 
longed to the 2d Massachusetts Regiment, commanded by 
Lieut, Col. Ebenezer Sprout, in Gen. Patterson's Brigade. 
Mr. Bacon served through the whole of the war ; he was 
with General Greene in the Carolinas, and at the surrender 
of Cornwallis. Mr. Bacon also served in the war of 1812 ; 
he then held a Lieutenant's commission. He was a man of 
strict integrity, and possessed a high sense of honor. His 
wife was Mary Irish, who was a grand daughter of Capt. 
John Phinney. Lieutenant Bacon was a revolutionary pen- 
sioner ; he died at Gorham in 1849, aged 87 years. His 
wife, Mary Bacon, died in 1846, aged 79 years. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 155 



BANGS, 



Some of the Bangs settled here soon after the occupation 
of the town. They came originally from Cape Cod, but 
may have resided in Portland before settling in Gorham, as 
they claim descent from the Bangs of Harwich. Barnabas 
Bangs was a man of influence here before the incorporation 
of the town, as were his sons Barnabas and Thomas, who 
joined the Shakers, and removed to Poland in this State 
where Barnabas became an Elder of that society. Charles 
C. Bangs, now living here, and who has been Town Clerk, 
is a son of Nathan Bangs. Nathan Bangs, now connected 
with the Y. & C. Railroad, is a son of Joseph Bangs. 



BLAKE 



The Blakes came from Barnstable. Nathaniel Blake and 
Joseph Blake were both Revolutionary soldiers and pension- 
ers. There are many of the name yet in town. Joseph 
died at 83, and Nathaniel at 90 years of age. 



BAKER, 



Daniel Baker, Esq., came from Somers worth, N. H., and 
he lived to be 90 years old. He was at one period Town 
Treasurer ; his son, Jacob C. Baker, was two years Repre- 
sentative of Gorham in the Legislature of Maine. 



156 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



BRACKETT. — BEAMHALL. 

Joshua Brackett and Cornelius Bramhall, from Portland, 
were early settlers in this town. The families were connect- 
ed. Kerenhappuck Brackett, widow of Anthony Brackett, 
died in Gorham in 1822, asfed 93. 



BROWN. 



Samuel Brown, the first person in Gorham who united 
with the Shakers, came from Eastham, Cape Cod. The 
name has ever been numerous in town. 



BRYANT, 



William Bryant came from Barnstable. As has been be- 
fore stated, he and his children were slain by the Indians, 
April 19, 1746. His widow, who was carried captive to 
Canada, was there married and never returned. 



i 



BURNELL. 

The Burnell family were early inhabitants. I have not 
learned from what place they came — they were once nu- 
merous here, but the name is nearly extinct. John Burnell, 
who lived here prior to 1760, had nine children, most of 
whom removed to Flintstown, (now Baldwin) where are 
many of their descendants. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 157 



BURTON. 



William Burton was born in Little York, Virginia, in 
1759. While a young boy, a Capt. Doane, master of a 
coasting vessel, persuaded young Burton to come to Maine, 
promising his widowed mother that he would return him to 
her the next year ; Doane did not keep his promise, but 
placed him at service. When the war with Great Britain 
commenced, Mr. Burton enlisted, being seventeen years old ; 
he served in many campaigns ; he was in the battle at White 
Plains. After the termination of the war, he went back to 
Virginia, but finding no relative except his mother, who had 
married a second husband, he did not stay long, but re- 
turned to Gorham and lived with Capt. Ross, on the Tyng 
place. He married a daughter of James Ross, a brother of 
Capt. Alexander Ross. The Ross brothers were Scotsmen. 
James Ross married a Dyer of Cape Elizabeth. Mr. Bur- 
ton was one of the society of Friends or Quakers. Mrs. 
Mary Burton died in 1831, aged 72 years. He died Sept. 
24, 1841, aged 82 years ; he left one son, our townsman 
William Burton, late one of our Selectmen. 



C ATES, 



Joseph Cates was a citizen before 1764 ; where he emi- 
grated from I have not been able to ascertain. Mr. Cates 
was esteemed a man of ability, and one of the strong pillars 
of the Congregational church ; he was one of the Select- 
men in 1768, and on various important Committees during 
the war of Independence. Mr. Cates was a Deacon and 
Ruling Elder of the church for many years. He died in 



158 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

1813, at the age of 90 years. His descendants still live in 
town. 



CHASE. 

Caleb Chase came from Newbury, Mass. ; he was the first 
licensed lunholder in town ; he was Town Treasurer in 1772, 
and for several years held that office, and that of Town 
Clerk. Mr. Chase was one of the Committee of Safety, In- 
spection and Correspondence ; he left Gorham with his 
family in 1778 or '79. His wife was Anna Whitney. 



COTTON. 

John and WiUiam Cotton came to this place from Fal- 
mouth ; they were sons of Deacon William Cotton, and were 
the first tanners in Gorham. Their tan yard was near where 
Ezra Tliomes lives. William Cotton and his wife Elizabeth, 
had nine children, and their descendants now reside here. 



COBB, 



Several distinct families of the name of Cobb settled in 
Gorham ; most of them came from Barnstable, Mass. Jede- 
diah Cobb died here, Aug. 2, 1833, aged 91 years, and Na- 
thaniel Cobb died Sept. 24, 1839, aged 90 years. William 
Cobb was Selectman in 1820-21. But few of the name 
now live in town. 






BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 159 



CHADBOURNE 



Lieut. Silas Chadbourne came from Berwick, a young 
man to pursue the occupation of a tailor ; he enlisted in 
Capt. Hart Williams' company as a Corporal, and was in 
Col. Phinney's Regiment ; he was promoted to a Lieuten- 
antcy and attached to Col. Patterson's Regiment, and served 
through the war, and was a United States' pensioner during 
the latter years of his life. He married Abigail Crockett, 
of Gorham, and they had ten children, three sons and seven 
daughters. The late Deacon Nahum Chadbourne was one 
of his sons ; his daughter Rebecca married Gen. James 
Irish. Lieut. Chadbourne died at Gorham, about 1825. 



CRESSEY. 

The name is variously spelled, Creasey, Cresey and Cres- 
sey. John Cressey came from Connecticut ; he married his 
wife, Deborah Wadleigh, in Boston ; they had five children, 
John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary and Noah. Joseph, the 
second son, was born in Gorham in 1753. He was a pri- 
vate in Capt. Williams' company, and marched to Cam- 
bridge in 1775, with Col. Phinney's Regiment, and subse- 
quently to Ticonderoga. He married Hannah Ashley, of 
Connecticut, and their eldest son, Ebenezer, was born at 
Pomfret, in that State, in 1779 ; they had seven childi*en, 
five gons and two daughters. Joseph Cressey died in Gox*- 
ham, in 1832, 79 years old ; his brother, John Cressey, died 
in Buxton, January 20, 1842, aged 93 years. 



160 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



CROCKETT. 

Several families of this name, came from Barnstable, 
Mass. Samuel married first, Tabitha Hamblen ; secondly, 
Elizabeth Fickett. By his first wife he had seven children, 
and by his last wife three. His eldest, daughter, Eunice, 
was born in 1771, his last in 1790. Peletiah Crockett came 
from Stratham, N. H., to this town about 1763. Jonathan 
Crockett married Anna Dearborn ; they had six children 
born between 1774 and 1778. Joshua Crockett was also 
an early settler in this town. 



CROSS. 



Deacon Thomas Cross came from Bradford, Mass. He 
was a worthy man. He lived on Fort HjU, where Moses 
Fogg now resides. He had a large family. His sons, Jo- 
seph, William, Thomas, Amos, and Leonard, all settled in 
Portland. Leonard still survives. One of the daughters 
married Capt. Enoch Preble of Portland ; another. Captain 
Jonathan Stevens. Lucy married James Phinney, Sr., of 
Gorham ; Lois married Allison Libby of Gorham. 

Deacon Cross died in this town in 1819, and his widow, 
Lucy Cross, in 1821. 



C ARSLE Y. 



John Carsley settled in Gorham about 1760. He married 



Anna Harding, and had eleven children. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 161 



CLAEK. 



There were formerly several families of Clarks in this 
town. Benjamin Clark lived here in 1778, Moses Clark, a 
tanner, Morris Clark, from Stratham, New Hampshire, — he 
had sons, John, Jacob, Joseph, and James, arjd a daughter 
Mary. Jacob learned a carpenter's trade and was one of 
the earliest settlers of Baldwin, in which town he died. 



CLOUTMAN. 

This name is now usually spelled Cloudman. Edward 
Cloutman, the first of the name in this town, was born in 
Dover, N. H., Feb. 15, (old style) 1714. He was the sec- 
ond son of Edward and Sarah Cloutman, whose ancestors 
came from Scotland. He was a member of the Society of 
Friends. When the second Edward became of age, he 
came to Falmouth, (Portland) where he married Anna Col- 
lins, daughter of Timothy and Sarali Collins of Philadelphia. 
Mr. Cloutman was married in 1738, and went to live at 
Presumscot Lower Falls, and tended the first saw-mill erect- 
ed there, when the Indians burned the mill, in 1741. At 
this place his son Timothy was born, the ancestor of all of 
the name in Gorham. Edward took his wife and child, 
with their small stock of furniture, placed them in a boat, 
and paddled round Portland to Stroudwater. In 1745, he 
came with his family to this town, and purchased the land 
where Col. Frost lived a few years ago, now owned by 
James Cressey. The next April he was taken by the In- 
dians, as I have related in a former part of this work. 
Cloutman's widow became Mrs. Anderson, and died in 
21 



162 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Windham, Dec. 1, 1802, aged 84. She was seven years a 
resident in the Gorham Garrison. 

Edward Cloutman's son Timothy married Katy, and they 
had eleven children, viz : — Betty, born May 3, 1767 ; Nan- 
cy, born May 7, 1769 ; Edward, July 5, 1771 ; Nathaniel 
and Jesse, twins, born July 29, 1773 ; John, Feb. 20, 1776 ; 
Mary, July 13, 1779 ; William, Sept. 16, 1780 ; Thomas, 
Aug. 20, 1783 ; Solomon, Dec. 4, 1785, and David, Sept. 
16, 1788. Timothy Cloutman died Oct. 22, 1829, aged 91. 
His widow, Katy Cloutman, died March 24, 1832, also 91 
years old. Their descendants are numerous. Their son 
Jesse had twelve children. Jesse died in 1848, aged 75. 



CLEMENTS. 

Jacob Clements came from New Hampshire ; his first 
wife was Phebe Coffin. They had nine children, Eleanor, 
Ebenezer, John, Jacob H., Elizabeth, Simeon C, Daniel 
B., Samuel R., and Mary C. All his sons but Samuel R., 
have deceased. Mr. Clements was thrice married ; he died 
in 1849, aged 81 years. 



CODM AN. 

Capt. James Codman came from Portland. His first wife 
was a Waite of Portland ; they had two sons, Frederick 
and Randolph A. L. Codman. In his younger life, Capt. 
Codman was a ship master : his son Frederick was also a 
sea captain. Randolph was a lawyer, and died in Portland. 
Capt. Codman's second wife was Nabby Loring. For sev- 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 163 

eral years Capt. Codman was a Representative from this 
town in the Massachusetts Legislature ; he died in 1840, 
aged 77. His son, Capt. Frederick, died in Baltimore. 



DAVIS, 



The Davis families came from Barnstable. Joshua Davis 
lived here, and had eight children before the Revolution. 
Prince Davis was an early settler, and had four sons and 
one daughter ; the eldest son, Isaac, was born in 1762. 
Sylvanus Davis came from Falmouth, Massachusetts. Al- 
len Davis and Jonathan Davis lived here before 1800, and 
had families. 



DARLING. 

John Darling came from Barnstable. He was a soldier 
of the Revolution, and his widow obtained a pension ; she 
was Annah Lewis, daughter of Deacon George Lewis. 
Our townsman, George L. Darling, was their son. 



E A YER, 



John Eayer was one of the first ten who settled in this 
town ; he left the place on the breaking out of the Indian 
war, in 1745, and never returned ; he probably soon died. 
Just after the peace took place, his widow returned and 
claimed the lot of land that her husband was entitled to as 



164 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

a settler. The claim was allowed, and that is the last notice 
I find of the family. 



EDWAKDS. 

Richard Edwards lived here before 1762. In a Province 
tax, made in 1763, Mr. Edwards was assessed seven shil- 
lings and eleven pence. His wife was Hannah Lothrop. 
They had nine children. Our late townsman, Samuel Ed- 
wards, was their third child, and was born in 1770. Sev- 
eral of his children are now residino- in Gorham. 



ELDER. 



Samuel Elder, the ancestor of the Gorham and Windham 
Elders, emigrated from Ireland, and settled in Falmouth in 
1730. His second son, Samuel, having learned the trade of 
a house joiner, came to Gorham in 1773, and purchased of 
"Wm. Frost and others, heirs of Charles Frost, the lot on 
which his son, Simon Elder, Esq., now lives, and pursued 
his trade here. Mr. Elder was the contractor to build Gor- 
ham Academy, and was one of its first Trustees. He died 
in 1819. Mr. Samuel Elder was twice married ; his first 
wife was Hannah Freeman, who had five children, Eunice, 
Ruth, Hannah, Betty, and Samuel. Samuel was born in 
1781, and died in 1861. Mr. Elder's second wife was Mary 
GrafFam, by whom he had four children, Peter, Ruth, Si- 
mon and Lois. Mrs. Mary Elder died in 1829. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 165 



ELWELL. 

There was a family of Ehvells in this town prior to the 
Revolution. I know not where they came from. Henry 
and George Elwell are their descendants. 



EMERY, 



There were two families of the name of Emery here as 
early as 1778, John and Benjamin. James Emery had a 
family in town in 1786. 



FARNHAM. 

Simeon Farnham came here from Andover, Mass. His 
wife was a Johnson of the same town. They had nine chil- 
dren. Mr. Farnham built the large three story brick house 
in the village, now owned and occupied by Mr. Jonathan 
Dow, as a hotel. Capt. John Farnham, late Postmaster, 
and now living here, was a son of Simeon. 



FILES, 



This name is said to have been formerly spelled Foyles. 
William Files, the ancestor of all of the name in Gorham, 
emigrated hither from York, Maine, about 1756. In 1757, 
he, with Zephaniah Harding, also from Gorham, were in Col. 
Munroe's Regiment of Rangers, and were in the terrible 



166 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

battle at the head of Lake George, defending Fort William 
Henry against the French and Indians, under the Marquis 
de Montcalm. The fortress, though gallantly defended, was 
obliged to capitulate on honorable terms. The capitulation 
was shamefully broken. The Indians attacked our troops 
as they were marching out of the Fort, after they had laid 
down their arms ; a scene of merciless barbarity ensued ; 
men, women and children were murdered with every species 
of cruelty. The massacre continued into the forests and 
in the defiles of the mountains, and for many miles the fugi- 
tives were tomahawked and scalped. A miserable remnant 
reached Fort Edward on the Hudson. Among those who 
escaped were Mr. Files and Mr. Harding. During their 
flight, it is said, Mr. Files was captured by two Indians, and 
by his superior strength, he overcame them and escaped. 
He and Mr. Harding were still followed by the savages, and 
Files and Harding crept into a hollow log. The Indians 
suspected they were there and kindled a fire at the hollow 
end of the tree, but the cavity being very tight, the smoke 
would not enter ; the Indians were foiled and went away. 
Files and Harding, it is said, made their way to Maine 
through the woods, suffering much from hunger and expo- 
sure. Mr. Files was married in York, and had two children 
born there, and seven more in Gorham. He died in Gor- 
ham in 1823, aged 95 years, leaving numerous descendants. 
In the Province tax of Gorham, in 1763, Mr. Files was taxed 
7s. lid. 

WiUiam E. Files, Esq., who represented the town of Gor- 
ham in 1834 and '85, and was one of the Selectmen subse- 
quently, was the son of Ebenezer Files, who was thfi eldest 
son of William, the old Ranger. W. E. Files died in 1843, 
aged 62, leaving a large family. 



BIOGEAPHICAL NOTICES. 167 



FLOOD. 

There was a family of this name in town prior to 1800. 
Morris Flood had a large family ; I have not ascertained 
their origin. 



FOGG, 



Jeremiah Fogg lived here soon after the Eevolution. His 
son, George Fogg, was born here in 1784. Daniel Fogg 
came from Scarborough ; he was a house joiner. Our 
townsman, Moses Fogg, was his son. 



FOSTEK. 



William H. Foster, who was Town Clerk from 1815 to 
1832, came from Boston. He was .a skilful cabinet maker, 
and a respected citizen. 



FROST 



There were several families of Frosts here previous to 
1760. In the Province tax bill for 1773, there were three 
different Frost estates taxed. Some of them came from 
Kittery. Charles Frost, who lived at Stroudwater, was a 
large landholder here at the time of his death, and his heirs 
sold several lots near the village. Col. Nathaniel Frost was 
an active, pious man ; he was very conspicuous in the Eev- 



168 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

olutionary times ; he held many municipal and military 
offices. Col. Frost lived about half a mile north of the 
Academy, on the Fort Hill road, where his son Jeremiah 
Frost afterwards lived, and which is now owned by Mr. 
James Cressey. Col. Frost died in May, 1838, aged 90 
years. 



FREEMAN. 

Our earliest Proprietors' and Town Records show that 
three Freeman families were in this town soon after the In- 
dian wars. John Freeman, of Eastham, was one of the 
Narragansett soldiers, and a grantee of this town. Nathan 
Freeman and Jonathan Freeman came from that town. 
Nathan had a family here as early as 1760. Some of the 
name in this town came from Barnstable, and others, it is 
believed, moved from Falmouth to this place. They have 
been reputable and prosperous citizens. 



GAMMON. 



Philip Gammon and Joseph Gammon were among our 
early inhabitants. Daniel, Jonathan and Benjamin Hved 
here before the Revolution. 



GILKE Y. 



The first person of this name in this town came from Ire- 
land. Joseph Gilkey, the son of James, was born here in 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 169 

April, 1751. James had five other children, viz : Rebecca, 
James, Samuel, John and Isaac. Joseph had nine children ; 
their posterity are living here. 



G O R H A M . 

Capt. John Gorham was a Captain in the Narragansett 
fight, and from him the town received its name. At the 
time the Grant was made, 1732, Col. Gorham was not liv- 
ing ; he was a son of Ralph Gorham and lived near Barn- 
stable line. Capt. John's sons were John, (afterwards Lieut. 
Colonel,) James, Jabez, and Shubael, all of whom settled in 
Barnstable. Shubael Gorham was also a Colonel ; he was 
chairman of the committee of the Narragansett Proprietors, 
and did much to organize the Grantees and promote the 
settlement of the town ; he purchased several rights of other 
proprietors, and many farms in this town are held by titles 
from him. Lieut. Col. John Gorham came here and erected 
the first mills. 

Hon. William Gorham came to settle here about 1760. 
He was soon employed in municipal affairs. He was a prom- 
inent man in the troublesome days of the Revolution ; hav- 
ing been on the Committees of Safety, Correspondence, and 
Vigilance, most of their patriotic and spirited papers pro- 
ceeded from his pen. He was Town Clerk in 1773, and for 
several succeeding years ; several times a Selectman ; was 
twice a delegate to conventions to consider the matter of 
the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, he being 
strongly in favor of the measure. He was President of the 
Conventions. He was appointed Judge of Probate in 1782, 
and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1787, and held 
both offices till the time of his death, in July, 1804. Judge 
22 



170 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Gorham had one son, Francis Gorham, born in 1775, who 
died young. His only daughter, Fanny Tyler Gorham, 
died in 1798. Judge Gorham was highly respected and 
beloved, a man of strict integrity, public-spirited, and benev- 
olent. His widow married Doct. Jeremiah Barker. 



GOULD. 

Nathaniel Gould came from Ipswich, Mass., and was a 
saddler and harness maker. His first wife was Elizabeth 
Coffin, daughter of Rev. Paul Coffin, of Buxton ; she died 
in 1794. Mr. Gould's second wife was Elizabeth McLel- 
lan, who died in 1836. Mr. Gould died in Gorham, 1853, 
aeced 86. 



GKEEN. 



John Green was the first School Teacher in Gorham. 
Mr. Green was an Eno;lishman bv birth : he had four sons 
born in Gorham before the year 1769. Mr. Green was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary army, and was wounded by a 
musket ball passing through his cheek, in consequence of 
which, he was honorably discharged about two years before 
the termination of hostilities ; he then settled in Scarbor- 
ough, and died there. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 171 



HALL. 

The Halls were early settlers. Ebenezer Hall was one 
of those who left the town in 1746, on account of the In- 
dian war ; when peace came he returned. He had eight 
children — 1st, Abraham, born in 1765 ; 2d, Bethshuah ; 
8d, Isaac ; 4th, Dorothy ; 5th, Isaac ; 6th, Ebenezer ; 7th, 
Bethshuah ; 8th, Daniel. 

There were several other families of Halls, and their pos- 
terity are now in town. 



HAMBLEN. 

Bartholomew Hamblen and Eleazer Hamblen, of Barn- 
stable, were both in Capt. Gorham's company in the Narra- 
gansett battle, and were among the grantees of No. 7, in 
1732. Jacob Hamblen was among the first of the settlers. 
He and his family were in the garrison in 1746, and re- 
mained there during the Indian war. His son, Joseph, 
married Hannah "Whitney ; they had — 1st, Jacob, born in 
1756 ; 2d, Esther, 1758 ; 3d, Sarah, 1759 ; and 4th, Jo- 
seph, in 1763. Joseph Hamblen, senior, died in 1763. His 
brother, Daniel Hamblen, had four daughters, but no sons. 
Jacob, son of Joseph, senior, married Elizabeth Watson ; 
their children were Content, Eliphalet, Mercy, Joseph, Mar- 
tha, James, and Jacob. Ebenezer Hamblen came from 
Barnstable, and had thirteen children born in Gorham. Jo- 
seph, the son of Joseph, had a large family. Our towns- 
man, Nathaniel Hamblen, was one of his sons. Joseph, son 
of Jacob, cousin of Nathaniel, was Representative of Gor- 



172 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

ham in 1831. He omitted the b in his father's name, and 
his family wrote their name Hamlen. 



H A N S C O M . 

Two families of the name of Hanscom came from Scar- 
borough. George was the ancestor of those now livino; in 
town. The children of George and Abigail, were Moses, 
born in Scarborough in 1759 ; Hannah, in 1761 ; John, born 
in Gorham, May 19, 1763 ; Katherine, 1765 ; Joseph, 1774. 
The George, whose wife was Eunice Whitney, had twelve 
children, all born in this town. 



HARDING. 

The Hardings came from Barnstable, Cape Cod, and there 
seems to have been several families who settled, having 
none, or very distant relationship. Zephaniah, Joshua, Si- 
mon, David and his sons, Elkanah and David, Jr., Samuel 
Harding, Barnabas, Jesse and Seth Harding. Seth Hard- 
ing, whose wife was Elizabeth Wilket, was in this town 
about 1750. Their children were Samuel, Abigail, Martha, 
Elizabeth, and Seth. Samuel and Elizabeth joined the 
Shakers. Samuel was a master mariner, and died at sea, 
1789. Joshua joined the Shakers. Zephaniah senior, mar- 
ried first, Mary Davis ; their children were Priscilla, Thank- 
ful, Nicholas, Barnabas and John. By his second wife, 
Lucy, he had Lucy, Content, Elizabeth, Zephaniah, Samuel 
and Joseph. Zephaniah was one of the soldiers at Fort 
William Henry, when it capitulated to the French in 1757. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 173 

It Is said he was in the same company with WilHam Files, 
and witnessed the horrid massacre that then took place. 
Harding and Files escaped, as I have related before — the 
Indians howling around the hollow tree in which they were 
concealed. They suffered much in getting home ; having no 
guns to kill game, they lived on berries and roots ; they 
were greatly emaciated ; and were nearly a month in getting 
from Lake George to Gorhara. Both Files and Harding, 
notwithstanding the hardships of their early life, lived to a 
great age, and died at their homes in Gorham, To the end 
of their Hves they had a perfect hatred of the whole Indian 
race. 

Mr. David Harding, after he came to Gorham, lived Avith 
his son Elkanah, near Gambo ; he died in 1828, aged 97 
years. His son, David, in his younger years, followed the 
sea, and was, for many years, master of a vessel, and later 
in life, a merchant. Capt. Harding was one of the most 
prominent and useful of our citizens ; he was one of the 
original Trustees of Gorham Academy, and continued a 
member of the Board during his life. He was also Treas- 
urer of the Board. He was a Repi'csentative of this town 
eleven years in the General Court of Massachusetts, and in 
the Maine Legislature in 1820-21. Capt. Harding died 
suddenly in 1831, of apoplexy, aged 69 years. He was twice 
married ; his children (all by his first wife) were Thomas, 
Betsey, Temperance, Robert, Stephen, David, Charles, and 
Emeline. Thomas was the father of our townsman, AVil- 
liam M. Harding, Esq. ; Betsey married Wm. H. Foster, 
and had four daughters. Temperance married a Mr. Fenno. 
Robert was a shipmaster and was lost at sea. David was a 
trader. Charles graduated at Bowdoin College, and was 
a lawyer, and died in Portland. Emeline, the youngest, 
married Ebenezer Libby, and is the only surviving child of 
Capt. David Harding. 



174 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



HARVEY. 

Clement Harvey was one of the men who was in the fort 
in the Indian war. Little is now known of his subsequent 
life. His descendants write their name Meservey. 



HATCH 



There were two families of Hatches settled in this town. 
Asa, who married Rebecca Crocket ; they had two children, 
Nathaniel, born in 1783, and Stephen, in 1786. Nathaniel 
Hatch, and his wife Elizabeth, had four children, Betsey, 
Hannah, Sally, and Nathaniel. 

Joseph Hatch settled here about 1750, and had six chil- 
dren— Ezekiel, born in 1754; Asa, 1757; David, 1759; 
Mary, 1764 ; Ebenezer, 1767 ; EHzabeth, 1770. 



HARRIS. 

Stephen Harris, a member of the Society of Friends, had 
seven children — Mary, born in 1786 ; William, 1788 ; Levi, 
1790 ; John, 1792 ; Eebecca, 1795 ; Owen, 1797, and Na- 
than in 1800. 



HICKS. 



Lemuel Hicks was in town before 1773. He married 
Mary Rich ; they had two children, Elizabeth and Lemuel ; 



BIOGKAPHICAL NOTICES. 175 

by his second wife, Susannah Frost, he had five ; several of 
his posterity now reside here. 



HODSDON, 



Jeremiah Hodsdon lived here as soon as 1760. He had 
a large family, but left town many years ago. 



HIGGINS. 

Joseph Higgins came from Eastham, Cape Cod. He had 
one child, Joseph, bom there in 1776, and in Gorhara he 
had Mary, born in 1778 ; Isaac, 1780 ; Barnabas, 1783 ; 
Dorcas, 1785 ; Mary, 1787 ; Enoch F., 1789 ; Abigail F., 
1791, and Saul C. Higgins in 1794. 



HUNT. 



Ephraim Hunt and Ichabod Hunt came from Cape Cod, 
Ephraim married Abigail Cates. They had twelve chil- 
dren. Our late respected citizen, Capt. Daniel Hunt, was 
the fourth child of Ephraim and Abigail Hunt. Captain 
Hunt was, for many years, master of a vessel, and sailed 
usually from Philadelphia ; he married his wife there, the 
widow Angelina Hastie. Her first husband was also a ship- 
master. In the latter years of his life, Capt. Hunt kept a 
hotel in Gorham village ; he died here in 1833, aged 58. 
Mrs. Hunt and her three daughters removed to New York, 



176 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

where slie died a few years ago ; lier maiden name was 
Griffith. 

Ichabod Hunt married Mary Stone ; they had eight chil- 
dren born between 1780 and 1800. 

Oliver Hunt and Joseph Hunt came from IVIilton, Mass. 
Oliver was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and re- 
ceived a pension. He married in Providence, Rhode Island, 
where his first two children were born, Oliver and John. 
In Gorham he had four children — William, born in 1792 ; 
Hannah, in 17^4 ; Nabby, 1796 ; Charles B., in 1800. The 
youngest son, Charles B., was the late Hon. Charles B. 
Hunt, Representative from Gorham, in 1836 and 1837, and 
subsequently, a Senator from Cumberland County in the 
Legcislature of Maine. Mr. Hunt was also a Trustee of 
Gorham Seminary. Mr. Joseph Hunt came here and set 
up his trade, being a hatter. He married Jane McLellan ; 
they had two children, Jane and Joseph. Mr. Hunt died 
in 1861, aged 81 ; his widow and children survive. 



HUSTON. 

Simon Huston, and Elizabeth, his wife, had ten children — 
David, born in Falmouth in 1762, the other nine, in Gor- 
ham, viz : Elizabeth, in 1764 ; Eunice, 1765 ; Annah, 1767 ; 
Simon, 1769 ; Mary, 1771 ; Wilham, 1772 ; Rebecca, 1774 ; 
Lydia, 1776 ; and Simon, 1779. 

The younger Simon died without issue, and by his will 
bequeathed to the town of Gorham, his valuable farm, for 
the support of the Poor, the town to come in possession on 
the decease of his widow. Mrs. Huston is yet living ; but 
the town has rented the farm for many years, paying Mrs. 
Huston $165 annually; and the town paupers are there 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 177 

kept comfortably, having a judicious man for Superintend- 
ent. Coi'n, grain, hay and potatoes, are raised in considera- 
ble quantities, most of the labor being performed by the 
paupers. 



IRISH. 



James Irish emigrated from Roxfordshire, England, about 
1710, and located himself at Falmouth, (Portland.) He 
came to this town in 1738, and was among the first few 
settlers. Mr. Irish had five sons and one daughter born 
before he removed to this place, viz : John, Joseph, Thomas, 
James, William, and Miriam. He took his family here, 
but when the Indian war broke out, Mr. Irish removed back 
to Falmouth, being a place of greater safety. As soon as 
the dano;er from the savages was over, Mr. Irish and his 
family returned to Gorham, and re-occupied his land. Mir- 
iam married Gamaliel Pote, of Falmouth. John, Thomas, 
and James, settled in Gorham ; Joseph and William settled 
in Buckfield. Most of these men had large families, and 
several lived to be very aged. John, son of James, the 
emigrant, had six children born between 1746 and 1760. 
Thomas had ten children, viz : Susanna, Isaac, Benjamin, 
Jacob, Amy, Abigail, Gamaliel, Deliverance, Mary, and 
Elizabeth. Thomas Irish died in 1832, ag-ed 98 vears and 
eight months. His daughter. Amy, who married Samuel 
Burnell, of Baldwin, lived to be 91 years old. William 
Irish married Mary iSIcColIister ; they had six children — 
Thomas, Edmund, jMargery, Dorcas, Miriam, and Sylva- 
nus, born between 1766 and 1780. James Irish, Jr., mar- 
ried Mary Gorham Phinney, daughter of Capt. John Phin- 
28 



178 .HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

ney. She was the first white child born in Gorham ; they 
had nine children, viz : — 



2. William, 


MWil 


1 J.IJ.fH V, 11 

jMarcii 


12, 1759 


iaiv;n 


1815, 


o 

" 56. 


3. Martha, 




Aug. 


28, 1761 




1836, 


" 75. 


4. Ebenezer, 




April 


5, 1764 




1851, 


" 87. 


5. Obadlah, 




July 


17, 1766 




1852, 


" 86. 


6. Mary, 




June 


24, 1768 ; 




1846, 


" 78. 


7. Patience, 




Jan. 


31, 1771 




1854, 


» 83. 


8. Samuel, 




April 


8, 1773 




1825, 


" 52. 


9. James, 




Aug. 


18, 1776 


; now livln 


g at the 


age of 86 years. 


James 


Irish, the 


fathe 


r, died 


in 1816, 



aged 80 ; his widow, in 1825, aged 89 years. All the chil- 
dren of James and Mary G. Irish, were married. Stephen 
married Anna Bangs ; William, Sarah Murch ; Martha, 
Stephen Whitney ; Ebenezer, Patty Morton ; Obadlah, 
Mary Dean ; Mary, Timothy Bacon ; Patience, John Davis ; 
Samuel, Martha Blake ; and James, Rebecca Chadbourne, 
for his first wife — his second wife was the widow Louisa 
Mason. 

Hon. James Irish, now one of our oldest citizens, has lived 
an active and enterprising life ; he has been much in public 
life, and probably has held more commissions than any other 
man in Gorham ; in the military line, holding nearly all the 
ranks from a private up to a Brigadier General. In civil 
life, he has been Selectman, Representative, Senator, and 
Land Agent of Maine ; he was also a member of the Con- 
stitutional Convention of this State, and has held many 
other inferior ofl&ces. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 179 



JENKINS. 

Capt. Josiali Jenkins was an officer in the Eevolutionary 
army, and was in an engagement on Lake Cliamplain. He 
also fought in the battle of Monmouth. He was a United 
States' pensioner at the time of his death, in 1831, when he 
was 81 years old. His wife was Prudence Davis ; they had 
seven children — Sarah, two Marys, Aurelia, Nancy, Jo- 
siah, and Katherine. 



JE WETT. 

Rev. Caleb Jewett was from Newburyport, and was set- 
tled in Gorham in 1783. He was dismissed from his charge 
in 1800, and died in this town in 1802. Mr. Jewett's resi- 
dence was the house now occupied by his grand son, Henry 
Broad. Mr. Jewett had four children — Jonathan, Martha, 
Caleb, and Betsey. 



JONES 



Henry Jones came from Scarborough, and settled here 
about 1757 ; he had four children — Jeremiah, Ephraim, Jo- 
seph, and Lydla. Jeremiah Jones came from Boston to 
Gorham ; he had one son, Jeremiah, born in 1778. Joseph 
Jones, son of Henry, married Deborah Hanscom ; their 
children were Henry, Moses, Samuel, John and Hannah. 
There was also living here, in 1788, a William Jones, who 
had four children, Sally, Wealthy, Hiram, and John. 



180 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



JOHNSOIf. 

There are many of this name In Gorham. Stephen John- 
son lived here before 1774. John Johnson, who had six 
children, resided in town in 1784, and subsequently. I do 
not know where they came from. Matthew Johnson came 
from that part of Falmouth which is now Westbrook ; his 
sons were Thomas, William, John, and Samuel. Hannah 
was his daughter ; she married a cousin, the late Captain 
Robert Johnson, who was the son of Robert Johnson. 
Most of the Messi's. Johnsons have been largely engaged in 
farmingr. 



K EM P. 



Ebenezer Kemp came here after the Revolutionary war, 
from Groton, Mass. ; he died in this town in 1833, aged 83 
years. 



KNIGHT. 

Capt. Joseph Knight removed from Falmouth to Wind- 
ham, and from the latter town to this place. He had eleven 
children — Lydia, born in Falmouth in 1761 ; Phebe, in 
Windham in 1763 ; Nathaniel, in Gorham, 1765 ; Daniel, 
1768 ; Joseph, 1771 ; Nabby, 1773 ; Joseph, 1775 ; Samuel, 
1778 ; Morris, 1780 ; Wiuthrop, 1782, and Benjamin, 1785. 
Capt. Knight died in 1797. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 181 



L A K E M A N . 

The Lakemans settled early in town. "William, whose 
wife was Hannah Doane, and their children — Mary, born 
in 1756 ; Hannah, in 1758, and Josiali Harding in 1762. 
Josiah Lakeman married Esther Cobb, and had Solomon, 
Polly and Betsey. Solomon married, and had one son, Jo- 
siah, and two daughters, Mary Ann and Martha. 



L AERY. 

Dennis Larry, the elder, emigrated from Ireland, and set- 
tled in Gorham about the close of the Indian war ; he mar- 
ried Patience Wooster ; their son, Stephen, was born in this 
town in 1763. Dennis Larry died in 1807, aged 90 years ; 
His wife. Patience, in 1809, 91 years old. Their son, 
Stephen, married Abigail Hamblen ; their children were 
Patience, John, James, Stephen, and Joseph. James grad- 
uated at Bowdoin College in the class of 1821, and soon 
went to Virginia, where he has since resided. Stephen 
Larry, senior, died in 1838, aged 75 years. 



LE WIS- 

Deacon and Major George Lewis came from Barnstable, 
Mass., where all his children were born. His first wife was 
Mehitable Davis, daughter of Daniel Davis, Esq., Judge of 
Probate, who died in Barnstable. His second wife, also a 
Barnstable woman, was Desire Parker. Mr. Lewis' chil- 



182 HISTOEY OF GORHAM. 

dren were — 1st, Lothrop, born in 1763 ; 2d, Meliltable ; 
3d, Ansel ; 4tli, Sally ; 5th, Annali ; 6th, Daniel ; 7th, 
James ; 8th, George ; 9th, Abigail ; 10th, Caroline. The 
family were highly respectable, and immediately took a 
prominent place among our citizens. Deacon Lewis died in 
Gorham, July 21, 1819, aged 79 years. 

Probably no Gorham man ever stood higher in the esti- 
mation of his fellow citizens than the Hon. Lothrop Lewis. 
His morals were pure, his mind lucid ; of steadfast integrity, 
correct behavior, obliging and courteous in manner, prudent 
in words and action, distinguished for sound common sense, 
and inflexibly just ; his mind was not brilliant, nor its oper- 
ations rapid, but clear, persevering ; with a power of correct 
discrimination, his conclusions were nearly always correct ; 
he was popular in the town, county and State. Mr. Lewis 
was much engaged when young as a surveyor of lands, and 
in locating roads. He was the surveyor in locating the first 
road from Standish through Baldwin to Bridgton. He was 
often a referee in important and difficult cases. During his 
life he held many civil and military offices, and discharged 
the duties of all with fidelity, and to the acceptance of his 
employers and the people. In the military line he rose to 
the Colonelcy of a Kegiment of Cavalry. In civil life he was 
a Justice of the Peace, Deputy Sheriff, Assessor, Selectman, 
Representative of his town in the General Court of Massa- 
chusetts and the Legislature of Maine. He was one of 
Gov. Strong's Board of "War in 1812-15. At the time of his 
death, which occurred Oct. 9, 1822, he was Land Agent 
of Maine, and died at Bangor in the discharge of his official 
duty. Col. Lewis was twice married, first to Tabitha Long- 
fellow, by whom he had two children, Stephen Longfellow 
and Mary. His son was born in 1795. his daughter in 
1796. Stephen studied law and settled in Athens, Somer- 
set County, Maine. He died nearly forty years ago, leav- 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 183 

ing two daughters. Mary Lewis married Jacob S. Smith, 
Esq. ; they had two sons, Lothrop Lewis and Samuel Long- 
fellow. Col. LeAvis' second wife was Mary J. Little, widow 
of John Park Little ; her maiden name was Prescott, a 
daughter of Judge Prescott, of Groton, Mass., By his sec- 
ond wife, Col. Lewis had three children — Annah, Catherine, 
and Elizabeth, all of whom have deceased. Annah and 
Catherine died young. Elizabeth married, first, Stephen 
M. Staples, Esq., and secondly, Hon. Hugh D. McLellan. 
Maj. George Lewis' children were all respectable and useful 
citizens. Ansel was a lumber surveyor in Portland. Dan- 
iel was a Baptist clergyman ; he settled in Patterson, New 
Jersey, where he died a few years ago. Of Eev. James, I 
have spoken under the title of " Methodists." George was a 
farmer in Bridgton, and was Major of a Regiment of militia. 
Mehitable married a Mr. Crocker ; Sally married Captain 
Ebenezer Peabody ; Annah married John Darling ; Abigail 
married Capt. William Prentiss ; she was the mother of the 
distinguished orator, Sear2;ent S. Prentiss. 



LIBBT, 



There have been many families of Libbys in this town. 
They have written their names Libbee, Libbey, and Libby ; 
the latter is now the most common way of spelling the name. 
Before the Revolution there resided here Joab Libbey, Jo- 
seph Libbee, Reuben Libbee ; several others came soon after 
the war. I believe nearly all of them were from Scarbor- 
ough. At the present time, the name is common among us. 



184 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



LINCOLN. 

The Llucolns came to Gorliam from Hingham, Massachu- 
setts. Koyal and John Lincoln were farmers. John was 
also a master of a vessel several years. They had families, 
but none of the name now live in town. 



LOMBARD. 

There were three Lombards among the original grantees 
of this township. Caleb and Jedediah, of Barnstable, and 
Jonathan, of Tisbury, Mass. Some of their sons settled in 
Gorham, and have descendants now in town. I have given 
on a preceding page, some account of Rev. Solomon Lom- 
bard, the first settled clergyman. He had several children. 
His sons, Solomon and Richard, had large families ; Solomon, 
Jr., had Richard, born 1761 ; Susannah, 1762 ; Hannah, 
1764 ; Solomon, 1766 ; James, 1768 ; Lydia, 1771 ; Peter, 
1772 ; Ephraim, 1773 ; Solomon, 1775 ; Mary, 1777 ; Sam- 
uel, 1779. Samuel is still living, in the 83d year of his age. 
Richard Lombard, son of Rev. Solomon, had nine chil- 
dren — John, Paul, Joseph, Lydia, Ebenezer, Bethshuah, 
Richard, Simon and Sarah. Ebenezer was the Class Leader 
of the first Methodist Class gathered in this town. Both 
he and his brother Richard, were Methodist preachers, and 
itinerated extensively. Calvin Lombard had eight children. 
He was one of the Gorham Minute men that went with Col. 
Phinney to Portland, when the trouble with Coulson and 
Capt. Mowatt occurred. There was great excitement ; about 
six hundred men collected between meetings on Sunday. 
Calvin Lombard went to the water side as near Mowatt's 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 185 

ship as he could well get, and fired a brace of halls at the 
ship, which penetrated deep into its side ; the fire Avas an- 
swered from a fusee on board. Mowatt wrote to Col. Free- 
man to deliver up Calvin, assuring him that, otherwise, he 
should fire upon the town. Lombard was not given up, but 
returned to Gorham. Nathaniel Lombard and Butler Lom- 
bard, were soldiers in Captain Hart Williams' company, in 
1775. John Lombard Avas in the sea service of the United 
States in the war of the Revolution, and he received a pen- 
sion in the latter years of his life. He died in Gorham, in 
1844, aged 85 years. 



LONGFELLOW. 

Stephen Longfellow, the first of the name here, camefrora 
Portland in 1775. He had held many important town and 
county offices while he lived in Poi-tland. His father came 
from Newbury, Mass., to Portland, about 1745. Mr. Long- 
fellow died in Gorham in 1790. His son, Stephen, who was 
one of the most distinguished and respected of our citizens 
was born in Portland in 1750, and came here when he was 
about twenty-five years old. He was largely employed as a 
Surveyor, Selectman, and held various other municipal offices. 
He represented this town, in the General Court of Massa- 
chusetts, eight years. Afterwards he was a Senator of Cum- 
berland County for several sessions, when he was appointed 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and held the office 
from 1797 to 1811. He occupied a large farm that he 
owned in the southerly part of the town, near Westbrook. 
His Avife was Patience Young, of York. They were mar- 
ried in 1773. They had six children, viz : — Tabitha, born 
October 9, 1774 ; Stephen, March 23, 1776 ; Abigail, Jan- 
24 



186 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

uary 18, 1779 ; Anna, November 2(3, 1781 ; Katherine, 
August 20, 1786, and Samuel, July 30, 1789. Judge 
Longfellow died in Gorliam in 1824, aged 74 years. His 
daughter, Tabitlia, was the first wife of Hon. Lothrop Lewis ; 
she died in 1807. Stephen, Jr., son of Judge Longfellow, 
graduated at Harvard College, in 1798. He read law with 
Salmon Chase, Esq., of Portland, and on being admitted to 
the Bar, at once entered upon a large practice, and gained 
an' early and honorable distinction in his chosen profes- 
sion. He stood in the first rank of the able counselors who 
were his cotemporaries. Mr. Longfellow's industry, perse- 
verance, and uprightness in all his pursuits, were remarka- 
ble. He was modest and unassuming, but inflexible in pur- 
pose and action. No man among us sustained a higher or 
purer character. He held many important offices. He was 
a member of the celebrated Hartford Convention in 1814, 
and a member of Congress ten years later. After a pro- 
tracted illness, he died in 1839, aged 73 years. Abigail, 
the second daughter of Judge Longfellow, married Colonel 
Samuel Stevenson, of Gorham. She still lives. Anna died 
unmarried in 1811. Katherine died in 1804, at the age of 
18. Samuel Longfellow, the youngest son, followed the sea 
for some years, and then married and lived with his father, 
had one daughter, and died in Oct., 1818. Col. Longfel- 
low's widow married Judge Asa Redington. 



McCOLLESTER. — McCOERISON. 

William McCollester came from England, it is said. His 
ancestors spelled their name McAllister. William, the 
emio-rant, settled here early ; his son was born in the fort, in 
Gorham, March 7, 1750. His father, William, was taxed 



BIOGRArHICAL NOTICES. 187 

in the Province tax in 1762 ; he then paid one of the largest 
taxes in Gorham. James married Deliverance Rich when 
he was seventeen years old ; they had six children — Lem- 
uel, born in 176-7 ; Amos, 1769 ; James, 1771 ; Mary, 1774 ; 
Patience, 1776 ; Betty, 1779. His second wife was Mary 
Flood ; by her he had nine children, making fifteen in all. 
Mr. McCollester was one of the earliest converts to the faith 
of the New Lights, and became one of their most promi- 
nent preachers. His education was very limited ; he was 
earnest and vociferous against " book learning, and salaried 
ministers." His meetings were very disorderly. After 
awhile they become more sedate and systematic, and out of 
the New Lights sprung the Freewill Baptist Society in this 
town. Mr. McCollester changed his name to McCorrison, 
and his numerous descendants so write the name. James 
McCollester, or McCorrison, lived till 1820, and died at his 
son's house in Standish, at the age of 70 years. AVhen 
young, James McCorrison was an expert hunter, which, in 
those days, was a highly prized attainment ; many were the 
bears, deers and wolves that he killed. Li his old age he 
used to relate a hunting feat performed by himself and his 
brother-in-law, Eich, which he said was the occasion of 
much scandal, respecting himself and his religious society. 
He acknowledged he did wrong and justly merited rebuke, 
and he never ceased to condemn his own act, but he believed 
the whole affair was the device of the Devil, to tempt him 
from the path of duty, and he succeeded that time ; but he 
used to add, that Satan was never able to entrap him again, 
at least, not in that Avay. The story was this : — Mr. Mc- 
Corrison had a large family ; they were out of meat. On 
Saturday he went into the woods in quest of game ; he 
traversed the forests nearly all day without any success — 
an uncommon occurrence in those days. Night was near, and 
he turned his weary steps homewards, hungry and depressed 



188 HISTOKY OF G0RHA3I. 

in spirit; he looked ahead, and saw directly in his path 
what appeared to be a large deer ; the animal was so near 
he felt sure of killing him ; he fired, but strange to tell, 
the deer stood still and looked full on Mr. McCorrison ; he 
stepped towards the deer which gave one bound and disap- 
peared in the woods. It was too dark to follow him. Mc- 
Corrison thought he found blood, and felt certain the deer 
was wounded, and that he could not go far ; he marked the 
spot, that he might find it again ; he determined to come 
early in the morning, though it would be Sunday ; (Mr. 
McCorrison was a constant advocate for a strict observance 
of the Sabbath.) He meant to quietly secure his game, 
and let no one know of the affair. Sunday morning came ; 
he called on his brother-in-law. Rich, told him of his adven- 
ture with the deer, the preceding evening, and requested him 
to accompany him. Mr. Rich consented to go. They took 
their guns, but agreed not to use them, unless it should be 
■necessary, to secure the wounded deer. Soon after arriving 
at the place in the woods, where Mr. McCorrison had fired, 
the evening before, a large deer made his appearance ; they 
fired and brought him down ; they could find no mark of a 
previous shot, so they continued to hunt for the missing 
deer. Deer after deer were seen and killed by McCorrison 
and Rich, but on none of them did they find any former 
wound. They were excited by their sport, and continued to 
hunt through the day. When it grew dark, they set out for 
their homes, having killed eight fine deer, in their Sunday 
hunt. Such extraordinary success in hunting could not be 
kept secret ; it was soon noised abroad that two of the most 
strict and prominent of the New Light Society had been 
huntino; and killin<T deer all one Sabbath day. Elder Mc- 
Corrison was strongly reproved by his brethren, and he 
never ceased to regret that violation of holy time. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 189 



Mcdonald. 

There were several families of McDonald in Gorham prior 
to the Revolution. Charles McDonald married Priscilla 
Davis ; they had nine children born between 1762 and 1785, 
viz: — Meribah, Susanna, Nancy, Simon D., Jacob, Charles, 
Joseph, Mary, and Elizabeth. 

Robert INIcDonald married Mary Kendrick, and had six 
children — Samuel M., born 1771 ; John, April 15, 1773 ; 
Robert, 1775 ; Abner, 1778 ; Miriam, 1782, and Benoni, 
1785. John, who was born in 1773, was the Hon. John 
McDonald, late of Limerick, the father of Hon. Moses Mc- 
Donald, member of Congress a few years ago, and recently 
Collector of the District of Portland. 

Peletiah McDonald had two children — AVilliam, and 
Eleanor. William is said to have been born at Fort Put- 
nam, on Hudson's river, in 1779, his father being in the Con- 
tinental army, and stationed at that port. Abner ]McDonald 
had four children — William, Dorcas, Sally, and Enoch. 



McLELL AN. 

Hugh McLellan, and Elizabeth, his wife, were among the 
first settlers of Gorham. They were born in the County of 
Antrim, Ireland ; their family, it is said, were descendants 
of Sir Hugh McLellan, of Argyle, Scotland, and that they 
had been residents in Ireland, for nearly a century previous 
to their emigration to America. Hugh and his wife were 
decided Presbyterians. They were somewhat related before 
marriage ; she Avas a year older than her husband, and was 
born in 1709 ; her father was Cary McLellan. Hugh's 



190 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

cousin, Bryce, and brother James, came to America before 
Hugh. Bryce se riled in Portland, and James in Saco. 
Hugh and his wife, and their son William, then one year 
old, sailed from Londonderry in 1733, and after a long and 
dangerous passage, they arrived in Boston. On their 
voyage they had another child born. From Boston they 
came to York, Maine. Thence to Saco, and then to Fal- 
mouth, and settled at Back Cove ; but on account of In- 
dians they moved into Portland. When in Portland, Mr. 
McLellan purchased a grantee's right of land, (200 acres) 
in this town. Like most of the emigrants, at that period, 
Mr. McLellan was poor, and it is said the ten pounds which 
he gave was about all his property. He came to Gorham, 
and, repairing a logging camp on his land, on the easterly 
side of the Fort Hill road, opposite the brick house, he moved 
his fiimily here about 1740. They brought but little with 
them — a cow, a horse, and a few household goods, with 
their children, William and Abigail. They commenced 
their living here very poor, but their land was good, and 
they were robust, industrious, temperate and frugal. At 
the time of the Indian massacre, McLellan and his fam- 
ily removed to the garrison, and remained there about seven 
years. When the war was past he re-occupied his land, and 
became a prosperous farmer and lumberman. When the 
Province tax of 1763 was assessed, Hugh McLellan had the 
largest tax in town, and for many years his valuation ex- 
ceeded that of any other citizen. He was a Euling Elder 
in the church ; an upright, conscientious man, hospitable 
and benevolent. 

The children of Hugh and Elizabeth were William, born 
in Ireland, a daughter, born on the passage, and died young ; 
Abigail, Alexander, Mary, Carey, Jane, Thomas and Martha. 

Winiam married Eebecca Huston, of Falmouth, in 1763. 
He built a house about a mile from the village, on the Scar- 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 191 

borough road, Avbei'e lie lived till Ills death ; he died in 
November, 1812, aged 83. He was one of the first Trus- 
tees of Gorham Academy. His Avife died Oct. 13, 1823, 
aged 81. Mr. William McLellan was a large landholder, 
and owned mills and several slaves. One negro, Prince, 
brought from Antigua, ran away and enlisted on board 
Capt. Mauly's privateer, where he remained about a year ; 
was discharged at Boston, but came back to Gorham and 
voluntarily returned to a state of slavery. Mr. McLellan 
settled Prince on a piece of land, twelve acres, and a house 
free during the life of Prince and his wife ; and ten acres of 
pasture in fee simple, and made provision that Prince and 
his wife, Cliloe, should receive a comfortable support out of 
the McLellan family, during their lives. After the Pension 
Law of 1818 was passed. Prince received a pension for life, 
for services in Capt. Manly's vessel. Prince was supposed 
to be over one hundred years old when he died. 

Abigail McLellan married James McLellan, son of Bryce, 
of Portland. He came to Gorham, and lived about half a 
mile southerly of the village ; his house had the first plas- 
tered rooms in town ; the house is still standing, and is now 
owned by Miss Catherine Storer. James McLellan was a 
Deacon of the Congreo-atlonal church in Gorham. He had 
a numerous family. Alexander, son of Hugh, married Mar- 
garet Johnson ; they had eight children born between 1766 
and 1778, viz : — Jenny, James, Isaac, William, Nelly, Alex- 
ander, a second James, and Jenny. Carey was an En- 
sign, and his brother William a Lieutenant, in Capt. Hart 
Williams' Company in 1775, and went to Cambridge and 
Ticonderoga with Col. Phlnney's Regiment. Capt. Alexan- 
der McLellan commanded a Company In the Penobscot 
expedition. In 1779. 

Cary McLellan, son of Hugh, married Eunice Elder ; 
their children were Mary, born in 17 Oi'; Eunice, 1769; 



192 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Nancy, 1772 ; 2d Nancy, 1794 ; Gary, 1776 ; 2cl Eunice, 
1778; Alexander, 1780; William in 1782 ; Samuel, 1784. 
Gary McLellan's second wife was Mary Parker ; they had 
David, born in 1786 ; Sally, 1788 ; Betsey, 1789, and Thom- 
asin 1791. Gary owned and occupied the old tavern house, 
now altered into a store, and occupied by Mr. Gharles Ro- 
bie, at the head of Main Street. Gary McLellan was taken 
prisoner in the Revolutionary war, and confined in the Jer- 
sey prison ship in New York harbor, as related on a preced- 
ing page, whence he escaped. He died in Gorham in 1805, 
about 60 years old. His daughter, Mary, married John 
Glements. Nancy married Samuel Staples. Alexander mar- 
ried twice ; by his first wife, Ghloe Davis, he had Hugh, 
Eunice, and Elizabeth ; by his second wife, Belinda Don- 
aldson, he had Evelina, Ghloe, Belinda, Josiah T., and 
Gharlotte. Alexander McLellan, Esq., was Postmaster for 
many years ; his son,. Hon. Hugh D. McLellan, now living 
here, has held many civil and military offices ; he repre- 
sented the town three years in the Legislature of Maine, 
and was Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1847-8. 
The children of Alexander McLellan, through both his 
wives, claim descent from Rev. John Robinson, of Leyden, 
Holland. Samuel McLellan, brother of" Alexander, was 
thrice married. His two first wives were Sarah and Rebec- 
ca McLellan ; by them he had no children. His third wife 
was Tabitlia Flood ; by whom he had Sarah, Rebecca, 
Abby, Martha, Ann, Simon E., Isaac, and Lewis. Jane, 
the daughter of Hugh, the emigrant, was born in the fort, 
in Indian times, in 1748. She married Hugh Patten, of 
Topsham. Thomas, the youngest son of the eldest Hugh, 
lived and died in the old paternal mansion, the brick house 
north of the Academy ; he married Jenny Patterson ; she 
was his cousin, and they had nine children — Hugh, Eliza- 
beth, Robert, Polly, Benjamin, Jenny, Mary Ann, Thomas, 



BIOGRAPHICAL XOTICES. 193 

and John. Mr. McLellan lived in the two story brick house 
built by his father about the commencement of the Eevolu- 
tionary war. It is now standing and in good repair, and is 
said to have been the first brick liouse erected in the Coun- 
ty, and that it was four years in building. Thomas died 
in 1829, aged 75. Old Hugh, the patriarch emigrant, died 
in 1787, aged 77 years ; his widow, Elizabeth, died in 1804, 
in the 96th year of her age. She and her husband left high 
reputations for piety and benevolence. Their posterity are 
numerous. At the time of her death, the old lady had 234 
living descendants. 



MANN. 



Daniel Mann married Hannah Phinney ; they had two 
children — Edmund, born January 12, 1793 ; Hannah, born 
March 2, 1795. 

Hon. Edmund Mann became a distinguished citizen. He 
was many years one of our Selectmen. He represented this 
town in the Legislature three years. He was one of the 
Executive Council of Governor Dunlap, and subsequently 
one of the County Commissioners for Cumberland County. 
He died March 8, 1862. He was the father of our present 
County Treasurer, Hon. James Mann. 



MORTON. 

The Mortons emigrated from Cape Cod. Capt. Briant 
Morton, the most known of any of the name in this town, 
was twice married. His second wife he married here, and 
25 



194 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

they had two children — Jerusha and John. Capt. Mor- 
ton was an active and influential man in the Revolution. 
He was a Ruling? Elder in the Cono-resational church in 
1758-9. He was one of those who were opposed to Mr. 
Lombard's ministry, and he and Col. Phinney ordained Mr. 
Townsend. He was one of the earliest members of the Com- 
mittee of Safety and Correspondence, in 1772. He was a 
Delenjate to the Provincial Cono-ress, held at Cambridoe. 
He was the Representative of the town in 1775 and 1776. 
In 1771, he was one of the most zealous of the Freewill 
Baptists. Captain Morton died in 1793. His whole prop- 
erty was inventoried at <£142. 15s. OOd — £90 of which was 
his real estate. Ebenezer Morton was here and mai'ried 
before 1760. He had eight children, six sons and two 
daughters. Jabez Morton was married in 1766, and had 
five daughters and three sons. Thomas Morton had twelve 
children — James, born in 1753, was the eldest ; Thomas, 
Elliot, a second James, Major, Micah, and Randell. His 
daughters were Hannah, Anna, Mary, Betsey, and Wealthy. 
James Morton and Thomas Morton were Revolutionary 
pensioners. James died in 1840, aged 87 years. 



d 



MOSHEK. 

I have before spoken of the Mosier, Moshier, or Mosher 
family, on page 33. They were among the very first set- 
tlers, and they have continued the name. They early became 
large land holders, and have ever been among our most sub- 
stantial farmers. The Mosiers lived in Falmouth as early as 
1640. James Mosier, supposed to have been the son of 
Huo-h, was the ancestor of all of the name in Gorham : he 
was living in 1666. James was the father of Daniel, who 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 195 

moved to Gorham about 1738. James Mosier, the son of 
Daniel the settler, married Abigail Frost ; they had ten chil- 
dren — Susanna, born June 17, 1759; Nathaniel, Oct. 21st, 
1762 ; Jam'es, April 25, 1767 ; 2d Nathaniel, May 5, 1769 ; 
Abigail, Sept. 1, 1771 ; Benjamin, January 30, 1774 ; Jen- 
ny, Oct. 4, 1776 ; Betsey, March 4, 1780 ; Nancy, Nov. 
18, 1782, and Daniel, Jan. 14, 1785. Benjamin, the 6th 
child, is yet living at the age of 88 years, the oldest man in 
town. His father James lived almost a century, being 99 
years and three months old when he died, Oct. 2, 1834. 



MURCH. 

There were four families of the name of Murch here be- 
fore the incorporation of the town. Those of John, Sam- 
uel, Walter, and Ebenezer. John had seven children — 
Molly, William, Eunice, George, Samuel, Tabitha, and 
Martha. Samuel had Rebecca, Edmund, and William. 
Ebenezer, Jr., had seven children, one son and six daugh- 
ters. Ebenezer Murch Avas a Lieutenant in Capt. A. Mc- 
Lellan's Company in 1779. Matthias Murch was also a 
Eevolutionary soldier and pensioner ; he died in 1842, aged 
83 years. 



NASON, 



Uriah Nason settled in town about 1760, in the northerly 
part of the town ; for some years his nearest neighbor was 
three or four miles distant ; he and his family lived quite 
secluded ; Mrs. Nason used to say that sometimes she 



196 HISTOEY OF GORHAM. 

would see no woman for months. Mr. Nason had elo-ht 
children — Abraham, born in 1765; then William, Samuel, 
Lot, Margaret, Abigail, Joseph, and Uriah. Uriah Nason, 
senior, died in 1833, aged 91 years. 

Ephraim Nason came here from Cape Elizabeth where his 
first child Eunice was born, in 1785. He had born in Gor- 
ham, Richard, Abigail, Eleanor, Ephraim, and Fanny. 



NEWCOME 



I 



Enos Newcomb was in town soon after 1780. By his 
first wife, Thankful Morton, he had six children, and by his 
second wife, five more. Mr. Newcomb died in 1813, at the 
age of 85, leaving a numerous posterity. 



PAINE 



William Paine, and Richard Paine, brothers, were from 
Eastham, Mass. In 1770 they purchased part of the one 
hundred acre lot, No. 63, in Gorham. Richard was a black- 
smith and William a shoemaker. William married Sarah 
Mayo, of Eastham, where his first child, Mary, was born ; 
his next, William, Jr., was born in Gorham, Dec. 29, 1770 ; 
Thankfol, in 1773 ; Samuel, 1775 ; Sarah, 1779 ; Hannah, 
1781, and John in 1783. William, senior, served in the 
Revolutionary army ; he died in 1827, aged 85 years. Wil- 
liam Paine, Jr., married Hannah Cressey ; their children 
were Eliza, James and Charles. The youngest son, Charles 
Paine, Esq., was Selectman for some years, and Represen- 
tative in the Legislature in 1853-54. His father, William 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 197 

Paine, died in 1852, aged 82. Deacon Samuel Paine died 
in 1856, aged 81. Eichard Paine married Thankful Hard- 
ing for liis first wife ; his second wife was Elizabeth Patrick. 
Mr. Paine had seven children. 



PATRICK. 

Charles Patrick removed from Stroudwater village. His 
wife was Mehitable Fickett ; their children were David, 
Charles, James, Thomas, Eleanor, Stephen, Nancy, Chris- 
tiana, Polly, and Margaret. Charles Patrick was a mason, 
and did the first plastering in Gorham, being the house of 
Deacon James McLellan, senior. Mr. Patrick died in 1830, 
aged 85 years, leaving many descendants. 



F E A B O D Y . 

Ebenezer Peabody was the son of Lieut. Ebenezer Pea- 
body, of Boxford, Mass. He came to Gorham and married 
Sarah LeA\ds, daughter of Deacon George Lewis, and had 
four children born in this town — Kendall O., born in 1792 ; 
Ebenezer, 1794 ; Louisa, In 1796 ; Caroline, In 1798. He 
removed to Peterborough, N. H., and cultivated a farm, and 
had four more children born there ; one of whom was oui 
late respected citizen. Dr. William H. Peabody. 

Mr. Peabody was a cooper by trade, and while he resided 
In Gorham, he often went to sea In that capacity. He died 
in 1816 ; his widow, Sarah Lewis Peabody, died In 1849. 
Mrs. Peabody was an estimable woman, of pure and exalt- 
ed character, and a distinguished christian mother. 



198 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



PHINNE Y. 



On page 31—32, 1 liave given some account of Capt. John 
Pliinney and two of his children. He was born in 1693, 
April 19th. He died in Gorham, Dec. 29, 1780, aged 87 
years. His wife, Martha Colman, died Dec. 16, 1784, also 
aged 87. Capt. Phinney was not only the first settler of 
Gorham, but he was the first in authority and standing for 
many years. He was the general father and supervisor of 
this town and its concerns. His mind was active, inquisi- 
tive and discriminating. To him all the early settlers gave 
deference. In fine, he was a man of sagacity, steadiness, 
courage, and integrity. 

Edmund, eldest son of Capt. Pliinney, was born in Barn- 
stable, in 1723. He came to this town with his father, and 
felled the first tree for settlement ; he grew up a large, stal- 
wart man, active and fearless. When about 24 years old, 
he was severely wounded by a party of Indians. He was 
accustomed to the use of a musket, and was an expert hun- 
ter, and was skilful in all wood craft. He was a brave and 
successful warrior in Indian conflicts. He had a decided 
passion for military life. He held a Captain's commission 
in 1772. In January, 1775, he received a Colonel's com- 
mission, and in May of that year, he marched a Regiment to 
Cambridge, and when the British troops evacuated Boston 
the next year. Col. Phinney' s Regiment was the first of our 
troops to enter the town. 

In the Autumn of 1776, Col. Phinney and his Regiment 
had a tedious march to Ticonderoga, and took part in the 
military movements of the northern army in that and the 
following year. After the surrender of Burgoyne, being 
out of health, and having a wife and eight small children to 
provide for, he resigned his commission and returned to his 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 199 

farm, which is the one now called the Woodbury place, and 
Col. Phinney's house stood where the AYoodbury house is 
now standing. Col. Phinney was also much in civil life. 
Before the Eevolutionary Avar broke out he was, for many 
years, a Selectman, one of the Committee of Safety and 
Correspondence, Delegate to several important political con- 
ventions, a Eepresentative to the General Court three years. 
He was a ruling Elder in the Congregational church in 
Gorham. He Avas a patriotic, noble man, of unsullied char- 
acter, and generous hospitality. His integrity Avas ncAcr 
doubted. He had eight children — Decker, born in 1752; 
Sarah, 1754 ; Joseph, 1757 ; Betty, 1759 ; Edmund, 1760 ; 
Stephen, 1763 ; James, 1768 ; and Nathaniel, in 1771. Col. 
Phinney died in Gorham in December, 1808, aged 85 years. 

John Phinney, Jr., son of Capt. John, planted the first 
hill of corn planted in Gorham by Avhite men. This he did 
under the direction of his father, Avho bade him remember 
it. John, Jr., had tAvo sons in the army of the Revolution, 
Ebenezer and John 3d, and he himself was also a soldier in 
the same Avar. John Phinney, Jr., married Rebecca Saw- 
yer ; they had seven children — Sarah, born in 1755 ; Re- 
becca, 1757; Ebenezer, 1759; John, 1762; Martha, 1761; 
Abigail, 1766 ; and Colman, in 1770. 

James Phinney, youngest son of Capt. John, was born in 
Gorham, April 13, (old style) 1741 ; he was not a military 
man, but one of the most useful and respected men that ever 
lived in the tOAvn, often Selectman, on Committees of Safety, 
arbitrator in many difficult and important cases, strictly 
honest and truthful ; he was ever trusted and beloA'cd by 
his tOAvnsmen ; he retained his intellectual poAvers to an ad- 
vanced life ; even his memory was tenacious and ready when 
he Avas 90 years old. He Avas an ornament to the town and 
church of Avhlch he Avas a member for seventy-fiA'e years. 

James Phinney Avas twice married. His first wik who 



200 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

died in 1816, left no issue. His second wife was Lucy 
Cross, daughter of Deacon Thomas Cross ; by her he had 
a daughter after he was 80 years old. Mr. Phinney's widow 
is still living ; his daughter is the wife of Capt. Thomas 
E. Wentworth. Joseph Phinney, son of Col. Edmund, 
married Susanna Crockett, and had seven children, one son 
and six daughters. James Phinney, son of Edmund, mar- 
ried Abigail Mosher. Mr. Phinney died January 13, 1860, 
in the 93d year of his age. His son, James, grandson of 
Col. Edmund, is at the present time, the Representative of 
Gorham in the Legislature of Maine. 

Elizabeth Phinney, eldest daughter of Capt. John Phin- 
ney, married Eliphalet Watson, one of the first settlers in 
Gorham ; they had ten children. Sarah Phinney, another 
daughter of Capt. John, married Mr. Samuel Leavitt of 
Buxton. She has a daughter over 90 years of age, now 
(1862) living. 



PRENTISS. 

Samuel Prentiss, the first of the name in Gorham, grad- 
uated at Harvard University in 1771 ; his eldest son was 
born in Cambridge, Mass.; his first wife had two children, 
William and Dolly ; by his second wife, Rebecca Cook, he 
had Hannah, Rebecca, Phebe, Joanna, Betsey and Francis. 
I have not ascertained the exact year of Mr. Prentiss' com- 
ing to Gorham. Li 1770, he was licensed as an Inn-holder, 
and in 1777 was appointed post-master, being the first in 
Gorham, and he often held important municipal offices ; in 
1800 he was one of the Selectmen. He died in 1815. His 
son, William, came to Gorham with his father ; he followed 
the sea, and became a skilful and successful sea-captain. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 201 

He was a very active and enterprising man, and had the 
confidence of his employers and of all who knew him. He 
married Abigail Lewis, daughter of Deacon George Lewis, 
and settled in Portland, where his three elder children were 
born, viz : — William, Seargent S., and Samuel. The em- 
bargo and the following war, by destroying commerce, 
compelled our mariners to seek other employments. Capt. 
Prentiss purchased a farm adjoining that of Major Lewis, 
the father of his wife, erected a large house thereon, and 
passed the remainder of his life there. They had five chil- 
dren born in Gorham — Mary C, Abigail L., George L., 
Hannah, and Mary L. Capt. Prentiss' second son, Sear- 
geant Smith Prentiss, was highly gifted. He became one 
of the most celebrated counselors of law and eloquent ad- 
vocates, ever known in the United States. 

Rev. Doct. George L. Prentiss is now a disting-uished 
clergyman of New York city. William, the eldest, being 
a merchant in the same city. Annah is the wife of the Rev. 
Jonathan Stearns, D. D., of Newark, New Jersey. The 
widow of Capt. Prentiss resides now with her daughter, 
Stearns, at Newark. None of the family remain in Gorham. 



RICH 



Lemuel Rich, the ancestor of the Riches in this town, was 
from Truro, Mass. He came to Gorham with his sons, 
Ezekiel, and Lemuel, Jr., and perhaps Amos, Zephaniah, 
James, and Barnabas, were also his sons, as I find they were 
residing in town before 1770. Ezekiel was born in 1738. 
Lemuel, senior, died in 1791, near 90 years of age. Ezekiel 
married Sarah Stevens, daughter of Benjamin Stevens, one 
of the first Narragansett settlers. Ezekiel and his wife, 
26 



202 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

Sarah, had twelve children born between 1765 and 1789, 
viz : — Ezekiel and Samuel, twins, Reuben, Elizabeth, Benj- 
amin, Sarah, Jerusha, William, Mehitable, Peter, Eunice, 
and Stephen. Lemuel Rich, Jr., had six children — Lem- 
uel, Boaz, Samuel, Israel, Mary and Zachariah. Zepha- 
niah had seven children — Jonathan, Ebenezer, Zephaniah, 
Samuel S., Ephraim, Benjamin, and William. Amos Rich 
married Eunice Woodman ; they had Moses, John Wood- 
man, Sarah, Betsey, Lydia, Eunice, and Isaac. John Wood- 
man Rich, our respected townsman, was born Dec. 25, 
1785, and is now living on Fort Hill in Gorham. There 
are very few of the name now in town. 



K O L F E . 



Daniel Rolfe, Daniel Rolfe, Jr., and Moses Rolfe, were 
early settlers, and were assessed in the Province tax of 
1763, They soon after left town. 



RO BEETS. 

Benjamin Roberts was a citizen of Gorham when the 
town was incorporated. He had eight children — Mary, 
Benjamin, John, Jane, born in Falmouth, William, born in 
Cape Elizabeth, and Susanna, Stephen, and Dorcas, in Gor- 
ham. The family removed to Falmouth, now Westbrook. 
There was a Joseph Roberts lived here in 1782, and had a 
family, and Joshua Roberts and family, some of whose chil- 
dren still reside in town. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 203 



ROBIE 



Toppaii Robie, while a young man, came here before the 
commencement of the present century. He was born in 
Chester, N. H., and is' still in a vigorous old age, of four- 
score years. When first he came here, he was a clerk in 
the store of Daniel Cressey — afterwards a partner in trade 
with Sewall Lancaster, Esq. Subsequently, he and his 
brother, the late Deacon Thomas S. Robie, carried on a 
large and lucrative business, as retail merchants, for a long 
number of years. Hon. Toppan Robie has filled a large 
place in the affairs of Gorham, having by turns held nearly 
every municipal oflice ; he was six years a Representative of 
Gorham in the General Court of Massachusetts. In 1820 
and 1821, he was Representative in the Legislature of Maine, 
and since he was one of the Executive Council in Governor 
Kent's administration. He has been married three times ; his 
first wife was Lydia Brown, of Chester, sister of President 
BroAvn, of Dartmouth College ; his second wife was Sarah 
T. Lincoln, daughter of Capt. John Lincoln, of Gorham ; 
his third wife, Ehza Cross, widow of Capt. William Cross. 
By his first wife, Capt. Robie had a son and daughter ; by 
his second, three sons. The youngest, Frederick, served as 
Representative of the town, two years, and afterwards was 
a member of the Executive Council for Cumberland County, 
and he is now a Paymaster in the United States Army. 



ROSS 



James Ross was from Stroma, Scotland ; he was a brother 
of Capt. Alexander Ross of Portland. ■ James was one of 



204 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

the earliest school-masters in this town. His wife's name 
was Hannah ; they had Sarah, born in 1766 ; Alexander, 
in 1769 ; Walter, in 1771 ; Olley, 1773 ; and John Matt, in 
1778 ; this last son died in 1779. Hannah Ross, the widow 
of James, died Oct. 19, 1833, aged 98 years. 



SANBORN. 

Joseph Sanborn resided here during the Revolutionary 
war. He had two sons — Elisha and Samuel. Elisha mar- 
ried Eunice Hanscom and had two daughters. The name 
still exists in toAvn. 



SAWYER. 

John Sawyer, David Sawyer, Jonathan and Stephen Saw- 
yer, were early settlers. Joel Sawyer had four daughters — 
Eunice, Polly, Betsey, and Dorcas. Jonathan Sawyer mar- 
ried Martha Rich in 1764. They had eleven children ; five 
sons and six daughters. The sons were John, David, 
Barnabas, Jonathan, and Samuel. Zachariah Sawyer mar- 
ried Susanna Skillings and had a son Levi. Toppan Saw- 
yer had six children ; his twin sons, Thomas Jefferson Saw- 
yer and James Sullivan Sawyer, were born in 1808. 



SHAW. 



Josiah Shaw married Tabitha Watson. They had eight 
children ; seven sons* and one daughter. The Rev. Benjamin 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 205 

T. Shaw, a Baptist clergyman now residing in Liberty, is 
their son. Mr. Josiah Shaw was a saddler ; he also kept a 
public house where Thomas S. Robie lived, now owned and 
occupied by Mrs. Tyler. 



SILLA. 



John Silla had a daughter, Rebecca, born here in 1788, 
and a son, David Silla, in 1789. 



SMITH. 

Ephraim Smith, Esq., came from Barnstable to Gorham 
soon after the war of the Revolution. He had eight chil- 
dren born in this town prior to 1798. Mr. Smith was one 
of the disguised party that threw the tea from the British 
vessels into Boston harbor, in 1773. He died in Gorham 
January 13, 1835, aged 84 years. 

Col. John Tyng Smith was the son of Rev. Peter Smith 
of Windham ; his wife was Mary Duguid, born in Scotland. 
She was a niece of Mrs. Tyng. They had seven sons and 
no daughter. General Wendell P. Smith of Portland and 
General Edward T. Smith of this town, are sons of Col. 
John T. Col. Smith cultivated a large farm in Gorham ; 
he was an excellent, upright, hospitable man, and had the 
respect of his townsmen. He died in Gorham, Oct. 22, 
1856, aged 85 years. 



206 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



SKILLINGS. 



Benjamin Skilllngs was in this town, among its first set- 
tlers, when the Indian war of 1745 was impending ; he re- 
moved to Falmouth (Portland) for greater safety. At that 
time he had a wife and three children. He was the first 
man that settled in Gorham westerly of Little River ; he 
returned to his farm about 1752. Mr. Skillings had nine 
children — Deliverance, born in Gorham, Oct. 15, 1741 ; Su- 
sanna and Isaac, twins, January 22, 1744 ; John, born in 
Falmouth, March 2, 1746 ; Thomas, in Falmouth, May 8, 
1748 ; Abigail, born in Gorham, March 30, 1753 ; Anna, 
May 2, 1755; Martha, March 2, 1760 ; and Benjamin, April 
2, 1763. Isaac, son of Benjamin, married Susanna Watson ; 
they had Mary, Elizabeth, Tabitha, Susanna, Daniel, John, 
and Joseph ; Mary was born in 1767 and Joseph in 1779. 
Thomas, son of Benjamin, married Mary Burnell ; they had 
nine cliildren — Benjamin, John, Isaac, Thomas, Mehitable, 
Betsey, Polly, Caleb, and Molly. Their descendants are 
numerous. 



SNOW. 



Benjamin Snow was an early settler. The family have 
not been numerous. Jane Snow died in 1837, aged 102 
years. 



STAPLES, 



Samuel Staples married Nancy McLellan and had six 
children — Samuel, William, Stephen McL., Nancy, Eliza- 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 207 

betli, and Albert B. Stephen McLellan Staples graduated 
at Bowdoin College in the class of 1821. He was a teacher 
awhile in Philadelphia, and afterwards a surveyor in Mexico 
for some years. After his return to the United States he 
married Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. Lothrop Lewis. He 
lived but a short time and died without issue. Samuel 
Staples, the elder, died in 1837, aged 71. 



STEVENS. 

Benjamin and Nathaniel Stevens Avere settled here before 
the Indian war ; they retired to Falmouth in 1745 and re- 
turned to Gorham in 1750. Nathaniel had a son Nathaniel, 
born in Falmouth in 1741 ; Sarah, born in Gorham in 1744 ; 
Mehitable, 1750 ; Abigail, 1753 ; Catherine, 1757 ; Benja- 
min, 1763 ; Joseph, 1764 ; and Samuel, in 1766. Nathan- 
iel, son of Nathaniel, married Elizabeth Sinclair ; they had 
seven children. Benjamin married Amy Webb ; they had 
Harry, John, Charlotte, and Amy, 



STEPHENSON. 

Capt. John Stephenson came from New York to Portland, 
and had his house burned when Portland was destroyed by 
Mowatt in 1775 ; he then moved to Gorham and had a large 
farm, and built a large house, in 1771. He married Tabi- 
tha Longfellow, a sister of Judge Longfellow ; they had 
three sons — Samuel, Stephen, and William ; and two daugh- 
ter — Catherine and Tabitha. Capt. John Stephenson died 
Dec. 6, 1817, aged 76 years ; his wife, Tabitha, died May 23, 



208 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

1817, aged 62 years. Col. Samuel Stephenson, son of John, 
married Abigail Longfellow ; they had three sons — John, 
Samuel L., and Stephen L. ; and six daughters — Ehzabeth, 
Almira S., Ann L., Mary L., Catherine L., and Abigail C. 
They have all deceased except Abigail C. and Stephen L. 
Col. Samuel Stephenson died in Gorham May 23, 1858, 
aged 85 years ; his venerable widow is yet living at an ad- 
vanced age. Capt. Stephen Stephenson was master of a 
vessel for many years. He resided in his latter days on the 
farm where his father lived and died ; he had a large family 
of sons, who have left town, and some of them reside in 
New York, being industrious and useful men and respec- 
table merchants. Capt. Stephen's daughter, Harriet, mar- 
ried George Motley, Esq., of Lowell. Capt. John's young- 
est son, William, died in Brooklyn, New York. Tabitha 
Stephenson, daughter of John, married Jacob S. Smith, 
Esq. ; her elder sister, Catherine, wife of Ebenezer Storer, 
Esq., died in 1850, aged 76 years. 



i 



STONE. 



Jonathan Stone married Damaris Elder. Tliey had eight 
children — Jonathan, William, Damaris, Solomon, Arche- 
laus, Anna, Miriam and Eunice, born between 1782 and 
1799. 



STROUT. 



George Strout and Rebecca, his wife, had six children, the 
eldest born in 1763 ; his youngest son, George, was born 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 209 

April 9, 1780, and died in 1837. He was one of the Se- 
lectmen of Gorham at the time of his death. 

EHsha Strout married Eunice Freeman ; they had six- 
children born between 1764 and 1778 — Simeon, Susanna, 
Eunice, Dorcas, Elislia and Solomon. 



STEWART. 

Wentworth Stewart emigrated fi-om Truro, Cape Cod. 
He married Susanna Lombard, sister of the Hon. Solomon 
Lombard ; they had ten children — Mary, born January 20, 
1754 ; Susanna, May 21, 1757 ; Joseph, April 3, 1759 ; 
Solomon L., February 13, 1762 ; Sarah P., June 28, 1764 ; 
Dorcas, June 8, 1766 ; Susanna, April 1, 1768 ; Went- 
worth, August 17, 1770 ; Solomon L., February 24, 1773, 
and Anna, October 31, 1775. Mr. Stewart represented 
the town of Gorham in the General Court of Massachusetts 
in 1773-4 ; he was an officer in the Eevolutionary army, 
and died of the small pox, April 17, 1776, at Sewall's Point 
near Boston. 



STURGES, 

Jonathan Sturges and his wife, Temperance, came from 
Barnstable, Mass., about 1769, and settled on the farm 
where his grandson, David Sturges, now lives ; their first 
two children were born in Barnstable — Hannah, in 1766 ; 
Temperance, in 1768. They had eight children born in 
Gorham, viz: — James, 1770 ; Nathaniel, 1774; Abigail, 
1776; David, 1779; Joseph, 1783; Sarah, 1785; Jona- 
27 



210 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

than, 1788, and Ebenezer, 1790. Jonathan Sturges died 
May 11, 1834, aged 91 years, leaving numerous descend- 
ants. 



SWETT 



Doctor Stephen Swett came from North Hampton. He 
was the first physician that settled in Gorham. He came 
in 1770. He entered the Continental army as Surgeon to 
Col. Phinney's Regiment. Dr. Swett was patriotic, and 
possessed great energy. He had children born before he 
moved here, and six more born in this town. 

Capt. Joshua Swett was in the army of the Revolution, 
and a United States pensioner at the time of his death. He 
had thirteen children — Clark, David, Eliza, John, Simeon, 
Mary B., Hale, Sophia, William, Emore, Jesse, Rebecca, 
and Joshua. Capt. Swett lived near Factory village, and 
died there in 1851, aged 90 years ; he was the last survivor 
of our Revolutionary soldiers. 



THACHER. 

On pages QQ, 67, 68, I have given some account of Rev. 
Josiah Thacher's ministerial and political life in this town. 
His wife's name was Apphia, they had ten children — 1. 
Peter, born July 13, 1769 ; 2. Apphia, Aug. 19, 1770 ; 3. 
Peter, Aug. 5, 1771 ; 4. Apphia, March 23, 1773 ; 5. Pe- 
ter, July 21, 1774 ; 6. Mary, May 8, 1776 ; 7. Faith, Oct. 
30, 1778 ; 8. John, Feb. 18, 1781 ; 9. Apphia, April 7, 
1785 ; 10. Josiah, Jan. 21, 1789. Seven of these children 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 211 

died in infancy ; John died a young man ; the third Peter 
studied law with William Symmes, of Portland, and prac- 
ticed at Saccarappa ; he bequeathed $2000, the interest of 
which was to be annually appropriated toward the support 
of a grammar school in that village. Peter died without 
issue. The third Apphia married Rev. Reuben Nason, the 
first Preceptor of Gorham Academy. Mrs. Nason left a 
daughter, Apphia, who died young. 

Hon. Josiah Thacher had a taste for agriculture and gar- 
dening. He had, in his day, the best fruit orchard in town. 
The house he built, and where he lived and died, is now 
standing in the village, nearly opposite the Congregational 
church, at the corner of High and School Streets. It is 
owned by the heirs of Alexander McLellan, Esq., and Capt. 
Robert Johnson. 



THOMAS. 

Tufts Thomas became a citizen here about 1770 ; he had 
four sons— James, born 1771 ; John, 1772 ; William, 1774, 
and Isaac, 1777. 

William Thomas, the son of Tufts, had five children — 
Betsey, Merrill, Eliza, Samuel F. and Sarah L. Merrill. 
Merrill Thomas, son of William, born in 1801, was for sev- 
eral years, one of our Selectmen. William Thomas died 
Feb. 25, 1860, aged 86 years. 



THOMES 



There was a Thomas Thomes died in Gorham in 1790 ; 
his wife, Mary, died in 1786. It is presumed they were the 



212 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

parents of Charles Thomes, who lived at Fort Hill, and 
died there in 1833, aged 83 years. Charles was a soldier 
of the Revolution ; he was discharged at Peekskill, New 
York, having no money but depreciated Continental bills, 
then worthless ; he begged his food and lodging. He came 
all the way home on foot and was nine and a half days per- 
forming the journey. Charles Thomes married Anna Gray ; 
they had ten children — Comfort, James, Susanna, Mary, 
Job, Hannah, Martha C, Stephen, Joseph, and a second 
Mary. George Thomes lived here in 1780 ; his wife was 
Lydia Brown ; their children were Betty, Ezra, Mary, 
WilKam, Amos, Eunice, Mehitable, Lydia, Nancy — all born 
before 1800. Mr. George Thomes died \a 1821, aged 76 
years. 



TYNG. 



Hon. William Tyng, the only man of the name, as far as 
I can learn, that ever lived in Gorham, was born in Boston 
in 1737. " Col. Tyng was a descendant in the fifth gener- 
ation from George Cleeves, the first settler in Portland." 
When young he traded in Boston. In 1767 he was ap- 
pointed Sheriff of Cumberland County, Maine, and estab- 
lished his residence in Portland. In 1769, he married Eliza- 
beth Ross, daughter of Alexander Ross. She was born in 
South Ronaldsha, one of the Shetland Isles, and was two 
years old when her parents emigrated to America. Sheriff 
Tyng espoused the Royal side, in the contest with Great 
Britain. He was commissioned a Colonel by Gov. Gage in 
1774. He became a confirmed tory, and had to flee the 
country in 1778. He went to New York and remained in 
the British army. His extensive property in Portland was 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 213 

confiscated. While in New York he exerted himself suc- 
cessfully to better the condition of the American prisoners. 
Some of our Gorham soldiers received food and clothing 
from Col. Tyng, when they were in a state of great desti- 
tution. At the close of the war he went to Nova Scotia, 
and was there appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas. In 1793, Col. Tyng returned to the United 
States, and settled on his wife's land in Gorham, in the 
easterly part of the town. He erected a large and commo- 
dious house, and there lived in easy circumstances, in quiet 
retirement, taking no part in political life, receiving a pen- 
sion from the British government. He was a dignified gen- 
tleman, but an urbane and kind neighbor and townsman. 
He was beloved and respected ; he never had any children. 
He died Dec. 10, 1807, a little more than 70 years of age. 
The Tyng name is now extinct. Mrs. Tyng was a refined 
and hospitable lady. She was a decided loyalist, and never 
could forgive Washington and his compatriots for being 
rebels to their most gracious sovereign, George HI. The 
English government continued a pension to Madam Tyng 
during her life. She had no child of her own, but adopted 
a Scottish niece, whose name was Eliza Heddle, who be- 
came the wife of Rev. Timothy Hilliard ; they had two sons 
and four daughters. The sons, William Tyng Hilliard and 
John Heddle Hilliard, both of whom graduated at Bowdoin 
College, and are now respectable counselors at law in Bangor 
and Oldtown in this State. Mrs. Tyng died at Gorham in 
1831, aged 81 years. 



WARREN. 

Jamesi Warren and Samuel Warren became citizens about 
1775. James married Martha McLcllan. Their children 



214 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 

were Samuel, Hugh, James, Alexander, and Martha. Sam- 
uel Warren had six children — James, Sarah, Mary, Samuel, 
Sophia, and David. David was born April 22, 1796. He 
now lives in town. There was a Nathaniel Warren lived 
here and had a son, John, born October 12, 1786. 



WATERHOUSE. 

George Waterhouse married Dorcas Libby and had nine 
children — Polly, Joseph, George, Charlotte, Betsey, Isaac, 
David, Simon and Sally. 

Joseph Waterhouse had three children — Olley, Zebulon, 
and Benjamin. 



WATSON. 

Eliphalet Watson was one of the first inhabitants of this 
town ; he married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Capt. 
John Phinney, the first settler. They had ten children, 
viz : — John, born Sej)tember 23, 1741, Martha, December 
4, 1743, Susanna, February 1, 1746, Ebenezer, September 
28, 1748, Colman, December 4, 1751, Elizabeth, February 
11, 1753, Mary, July 12, 1756, Eliphalet, March 20, 1759, 
James, August 3, 1761, and Daniel, October 11, 1763. Mr. 
Watson was one of the families that moved into the fort 
early in 1746, and they remained there during the Indian 
war. Some of his children were born in the garrison. Mr. 
Watson's farm lay directly west of Hugh McLellan's, and 
easterly of Austin Alden's, about half a mile from the vil- 
lage. Eliphalet Watson was a man very useful in town and 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 215 

church. He was one of the first deacons in the Cono-rega- 
tional Church, in Gorham ; he was distinguished for sound 
sense, practical wisdom, industry, prudence, and honesty ; 
he possessed firmness and courage, and was a pillar of 
strength in the new settlement. He attained the great age 
of 98 years. 

John Watson, the eldest son of Deacon Eliphalet, married 
Tabitha Whitney. They had ten children — Mary, Martha, 
Edmund, Colman, INIiriam, Tabitha, Molly, Sally, Green- 
leaf C, and Desire — all born between 1775 and 1789. Mr. 
John Watson died in 1834, aged 93 years. Ebenezer Wat- 
son, second son of Eliphalet, married Anna Whitney, and 
had nine children. The youngest child, Eliphalet, was born 
in Gray in 1797, to which place the family had removed. 
Colman Phinney, third son of Eliphalet, married Patience 
Thomes, and had Mary, Stephen P., and Hannah. Elipha- 
let Watson, Jr., married Zipporah Partridge, and had two 
sons, Ebenezer and Nathaniel Partridge. James married 
Mary Davis, and had one daughter. Daniel married Anna 
Maxfield and had four children — Martha, Josiah, Hannah, 
and Daniel. 

Capt. Greenleaf C. Watson, son of John, and grandson 
of the first Eliphalet, is still living in town. 



WEBB. 



Samuel Webb, an Englishman, the ancestor of aU the 
Webbs in this vicinity, emigrated to Rhode Island in 1713. 
In 1744 he moved to Boston, and soon after to Falmouth, 
now Portland ; thence to Saccarappa, and the next year to 
Windham. He was the first schoolmaster in Windham ; 
his wife's father, John Farrar, being one of the original 



216 HISTORY OP GORHAM. 

ffrantees of Windham. Eli Webb, the seventh son of Sara- 
uel, was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island — was the first 
Webb that settled in Gorham, on what is now called the old 
Webb farm, near the powder mills. Eli's children were 
Edward, Anna, Lorana, Mary, James, Ezekiel, Abraham, 
and Seth. Eli Webb died in Gorham, October, 1827. His 
wife died the year previous. Edward Webb, and his broth- 
ers were grandsons, on their mother's side, of Edward 
Cloutman, who was captured by the Indians in 1746. Seth 
Webb, Esq., long one of our townsmen and selectmen, re- 
cently died at Knox, Waldo County, aged 86 years. Ed- 
ward Webb, son of Eli, married Sarah Bolton, of Windham. 
Her father, WilHam Bolton, was taken captive by the In- 
dians in 1747. She died in Gorham in 1850, aged 89 years. 
Edward Webb was a revolutionary pensioner. 

I have now before me the original paper, of which the 
following is a copy : — 

" Falmouth, March 21, 1758. 
Sir : — We do hereby signify that we are bound out in 
quest of the Indian Enemy, on y® Province Encouragement, 
for Captives and Scalps. Your humV Serv*% 

Seth Webb, 
elisVWebb." 

This notice, I suppose, was given in order to obtain the 
bounty offered by Massachusetts for Indian scalps. It was, 
I think, addressed to Enoch Freeman, Esq., because he was 
at that period Colonel of the Eastern Regiment, and had the 
superintendence of Indian Scouts. This notice was found 
among the papers of the late Judge Samuel Freeman. Sev- 
eral men went out as scouts from this and other towns in 
the county ; usually four or five men formed a scout, some- 
times a larger number ; and some men received considerable 
sums as scalp money. Rev. Thomas Smith, first minister 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 217 

settled in Portland, In his diary, published by Judge Free- 
man and Hon. AVilliam AVillis, under date of June 18, 1757, 
says : — " I received .£165 and 33s. of Cox — my part of scalp 
money. ''^ 



W E S C O T T . 

There are many of this name in town. Reuben Wescott 
had seven children born between 1785 and 1798, viz : — 
John, Reuben, Peggy, Sally, Eleanor, Polly, and Betsey, 
Nehemiah "Wescott married Eleanor Nason ; they had John 
and Betsey. James Wescott married Hannah Morton ; 
they had four children — James, barn 1793 ; Almira, 1795 ; 
Anna, 1800, and Charlotte, 1802. 



WESTON. 

A hundred years ago, there were two families of Wes- 
tons in this town — those of Thomas and Joseph. Thomas 
"Weston had three daughters — Patience, Anna, and Abagail, 
born in 1751, 1756, and 1760. Joseph Weston married 
Catherine Mosher ; they had James, Joseph, Zachariah, 
Thomas, and Sarah — all born before 1768. Mr. Joseph 
Weston died in 1770. It is a long time since any members 
of these families have lived in Gorham. 
28 



218 HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



WHITMORE. 



Capt. Samuel Whitmore was a prominent man in town 
previous to and during the revolution. He was a man of 
great decision of character, and executed promptly whatever 
he undertook. He was very patriotic and had a strong dis- 
like of tories. It is related that, about 1774, there being 
suspicions that Richard King, Esq., and a Dr. Abiathar 
Alden, of Scarborough, were tories, Capt. Whitmore, and 
about forty more of the ardent " Sons of Liberty," deter- 
mined to make Mr. King and Dr. Alden take an oath of 
allegiance to the American cause. Capt. Whitmore and his 
volunteers went to Scarborough, and finding Alden, they 
made him kneel on a hogshead and swear " a recantation 
oath" ; thence proceeding to Mr. King's house, they called 
upon him to declare his political creed, and he read a state- 
ment of his views upon the troubles between the Colonies 
and Great Britain. Some of the expressions in the state- 
ment not being up to the spirit of the Gorham men, they 
made Mr. King kneel down and erase the offensive words. 
The act was wholly unauthorized and unjustifiable. It was 
not uncommon in those exciting times to compel men to re- 
nounce their opinions, and not a few loyalists were even 
tarred and feathered. Civil war always produces evils of 
the kind. In our present unhappy civil strife, men are ar- 
rested and thrown into prison, oftentimes without knowing 
what they are arrested for, without the forms of law or 
any investigation ; printing presses are destroyed, property 
wasted, and other atrocities committed in the name of pat- 
riotism. 

Capt. Whitmore married Mary Whitney and they had 
twelve children — Lydia, Mary, Dorcas, John, Patience, Eliz- 
abeth Ross, two Samuels, Joel, Sarah, Joanna, and Eunice — 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 219 

all born between Aug. 5, 1765, and June 25, 1788. Capt. 
Samuel Wliitmore died Dec. 21, 1808 — the same month and 
year that his friend and military comrade. Col. Edmund 
Phinney, expired. Both did much to promote and secure 
our national Independence. 

Col. Samuel Whitmore, Jr., son of Capt. Samuel, was 
born in Gorham, March 26, 1780. He was a boy, and young 
man of much promise. He graduated at Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1802, with honors. He read law with John Park 
Little, Esq., of Gorham, in 1806 ; he opened an office in 
his native village with a bright prospect of success. He 
was gentlemanly, and very popular ; he was chosen Colonel 
of the regiment of militia in this vicinity, and was a brilliant 
young officer as well as lawyer. The hopes and expecta- 
tions of his friends were suddenly extinguished by his early 
death, which occurred Aug. 27, 1808, about four months 
before his venerable father died. 

There was a Daniel Whitmore in Gorham. His wife was 
Anna Hill ; they had five children — Rebecca, Joseph, Simon, 
Mary, and Hill, born between 1783 and 1794. 



WHITNEY. 

There were many inhabitants of the name of Whitney 
before the revolution. They came from York, Maine, to 
Gorham. Amos Whitney and Nathan Whitney were prom- 
inent and influential men here before the town was incor- 
porated. Amos Whitney was the first Town Clerk of Gor- 
ham, and one of the first Board of Selectmen, and was, for 
many years, annually re-elected. Amos, and Elder Nathan 
Whitney, were both much employed in the religious affairs 
of the town. They were many times on important conunit- 



220 



HISTORY OF GORHAM. 



tees in the lievolutloiiary days ; they were sagacious men, 
and of unquestioned integrity. There were eleven officers 
and soldiers from Gorham, of the name of Whitney, in the 
army of the Revolution. There were four Whitneys in 
Capt. Hart Williams' company in 1775. Paul Whitney 
was killed at the battle on Rhode Island. Isaac Whitney, 
Stephen Whitney, Zebulon Whitney, and Daniel Whitney, 
were pensioners of the United States. Amos Whitney mar- 
ried Sarah Payne and had tliree children — Elias, Jotham, 
and Ruth. David Whitney's wife Avas Hannah Brown. 
They had seven children — Susanna, Jesse, Joshua, Daniel, 
Hannah, Thomas, and Nathan, born between 1755 and 1769. 

Abel Whitney 

■Owen Whitney 
V Asa Whitney 

Daniel Whitney 

Uriel Whitney 

Timothy Whitney 

Stephen Whitney 

Micah Whitney 

Phineas Whitney 

Zebulon Whitney, 
Zebulon married Joanna Stone ; their nine children were 
Abigail, Happy, Mattie, Rufus, Eli, Eunice, Hannah, Tab- 
itha, and Almira, born betwen 1775 and 1798. Eli, yet 
living, was born August 16, 1786. 



had 10 


children 


" 9 




^' 11 




'^ 10 




" 6 




" 5 




" 2 




u 4 




" 4 




" 9 





WILLIAMS. 



Jeremiah Williams married Deborah Whitney ; they had 
eight chihlrcn — Martha, INIary, Peter, Susanna, Lydia, Dan- 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 221 

iel, Joseph, and Hannah. Mrs. Deborah Williams died 
December 16, 1851, aged 92 years and eight months. 

Capt. Hart Williams was one of our most prominent men 
in the early days of the town. He held many municipal 
offices. Pie commanded the first company of soldiers that 
marched from Gorham to Cambridge in 1775 ; from there, 
he marched to Ticonderoga in Col. Phinney's regiment. He 
was an able and meritorious officer. Capt. Williams died 
in 1797. 



YOUNG 



Joshua Young and Joseph Young, came from Welfleet, 
Mass., about 1775. They had families ; few, if any, of the 
name, now reside in town. 



Note. — lu compiling the foregoing biographical notices, I have designed 
to say nothing of families, the heads of which came into this town after the 
commencement of the present century. Nor have I named all who were 
inhabitants before that period ; to have so done, even if desirable, was not 
practicable. For nearly thirty years after a settlement was commenced, 
there were no records of births, deaths, or marriages, except such as were 
made in private family memoranda. After the incorporation of the town 
in 1764, many families took no pains to have their buths or deaths recorded. 
The old family records that once existed, are no longer to be fovmd. Much 
labor and research have been taken to have this historical work accurate, 
and though not by any means full or perfect, I trust it may preserve many 
facts and data that may prove useful, and be of local interest. 



APPENDIX 



A. 



A LIST OF THE NARRAGANSETT GRANTEES. 



BARNSTABLE. 



Mary Dovenour, 
Jacob Hinkley, 
John Carman, 
George Lewis, 
Jolui Hathaway, 
Joseph Higgins, 
Samuel Bryant, 
Richard ElUngham, 
Samuel Childs, 
Samuel Barman, 
Samuel Linnell, 
Dr. Matthew Fuller, 
Samuel Fuller, 
Thomas Fuller, 
Increase Clap, 
Joseph Taylor, 
John Doncan, 
Bartholomew Hamhlin, 
Eleazer Hamblin, 
Thomas Huckins, 



John Phinney, 
Joseph Bearce, 
Samuel Hinkley, 
Samuel Allyn, 
Samuel Davis, 
John Lewis' Heirs, 
Caleb Lombard, 
Joseph Gorham, 
Josiah Davis, 
Ebenezer Goodspeed, 
Ebenezer Clap, 
Lot Conant, 
Jedediah Lombard, 
Samuel Cops, 
Joseph Blush, (or Blish,) 
John Howland, 
John Clarke, 
Shubael Gorham, Jr., 
Joseph Crocker, 
John Goodspeed. 



224 



APPENDIX. 



YARMOUTH, 



Samuel Barker, (or Baker,) 

Richard Taylor, 

William Gray, 

William Chase, 

Capt. John Gorham, 

Thomas Baxter, 

John Thatcher, 

John Hallitt, 

John Matthews, 

Thomas Thorton, 

William Gray, 

Samuel Hall, 

James Maker, 

James Claghorn, 

Joseph Hall, 

Samuel Hedge, 

Nathaniel Hall, 

Joseph Whilden, 

Samuel Thomas, 

William Baker. 



Jonathan Smith, 
Samuel Jones, 
Richard Taylor, 
Thomas Felton, 
John Gage, 
William Folleu, 
William Gage, 
Ananias Wing, 
John Crowell, 
John Chase, 
Hem-y Golds, 
Richard Lake, 
Jabez Gorham, 
Henry Gage, 
Telverton Crowell, 
John Pugsley, 
Daniel Baker, 
Jonathan White, 
Samuel Baker, 



E A S T H A M . 



Timothy Cole, 
Jeremiah Smith, 
Jonathan Green, 
Joseph and Samuel Doane, 
Thomas Paine, 
Jedediah Higgins, 
Eliakim Higgins, 
Joseph Downings, 
Benjamin Downings, 
John Freeman, 
Jonathan Sparrow, 



John EJaowles, 
Samuel Atkins, 
John Doan, 
Thomas Mulford, 
Daniel Doan, 
John Walker, 
John Myrick, 
Nathaniel Williams, 
Josiah Cook, 
Joseph Harding, 
George Brown. 



APPENDIX. 225 



SANDWICH. 



Jonathan Morrey, Samuel Gibbs, 

Samuel Toby, for his uncle, John Lewis, 

Nathaniel Wing, James Atliins, 

Jehosaphat Eldridge. 



PLYMOUTH. 

William Ring, Peter Tinkman, 

Thomas Savery. 



DUXBURY. 

Robert Barker, Stephen Sampson, 

Robert Sandford, Thomas Hunt, 

Thomas Bonney, Thomas Standish. 



TiSBUBY — Jonathan Lombard. Abington — William Barrage. 

ScrruATE — Timothy White. 



The present inhabitants of Gorham know but little of the brave men, 
who purchased, by their suflerings and heroic deeds, the fertile lands we 
now possess. Not all of the foregoing named grantees were in the Narra- 
gansett fight — many of them, were the sons, brothers, and more distant 
connections of the soldiers and officers. Conflicting claims, were present- 
ed, by heirs and legal representatives ; to settle those rights, the Commit- 
tee of the grantees had recourse to the Governor and Coimcil of Massa- 
chusetts, as appears by the following petition : — 

" To his Excellency, Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Captain General, and Com- 
mander in Chief, in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts 
Bay of New England, &c. To the Honoi^'fi the Council and Representa- 
tives now sitting, April 7, 1741, humbly sheweth Shubal Gorliam Esci"". in 

29 



226 APPENDIX. 

Behalf of -'^veral of his Neighbors, and at their requests, That Whereas 
the General Court, sometime since made a Grant of Land to the Soldiers 
of Narragansett Fight, so call'^ & a List of the Names of such was ac- 
cordingly talven ; But so it was in the perfecting or Taking said List, By 
mistakes of the Clark, or Scribers, the names of some was wrong Entered 
viz: in said List is entered Richard Tayler, alias, and Richard Tayler's 
heirs, whereas the latter should have been Ju^ Tayler's heirs, there not 
being two Richard Taylors in said Company, but there was one John Tay- 
lor. And another viz : Entered William Grey, for his Father Will™- and 
Will™ Gray's Heirs ; There not being two Will™ Gray's in said Company, 
but that there was one Edward Gray. • And another Entered Joseph Cro- 
ker, whereas it should have been Josiah Crocker. Tour Memorialists well 
knowing their mistakes to be so, and that there was no such person as Jo- 
seph Croker of Barnstable in said Company, and s*^ service. But that there 
was Josiah Crocker in said Company ; and that their several heirs have car- 
ried on the charges of Bringing on the settlement, and performed the order 
of Court Accordingly. Wherefore your memorialist in behalf of his Neigh- 
bours, humbly moves that an order of this Court may be so, that the Names 
of the said John Tayler, Edward Grey & Josiah Crocker, may be entered, 
and that their several heirs may accordingly Enjoy the Wrights of theii* 
said Ancestors, and your Memorialist in their behalf, as in duty bound shall 
pray. 

SHUBAL GORHAM. 
April 8, 1741. 

In the House of Representatives, April 10, 1741. 
Read & ordered that y« prayer of The Petition be Granf^' and the mis- 
takes mentioned are allowed to be rectified. 

Sent up for Concurrence . 

J. QUINCY, Speaker. 

In Council, April 10th, 1741. 
Read and Concurred. I. WILLI ARD Sec'y- 

Consented to. J. BELCHER. 



At a Great & General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of 
the Massachusetts Bay, held by adjournment on the 10th of April, 1734. 

Apeil, is, 1734. Thomas Palmer, Esq., from the Committy of Both 
Houses, on the affairs of settling the Towns Granted to the Narragansett 
Soldiers, Gave in the following Report, viz : The Committy, to whom was 
referred the Aft'air of the Narragansett Claimers, are of Opinion that the 



APPENDIX. 227 

Consideration of admitting such Claims, as lieretofore, omitted presenting 
or proving tlieir Claims, should be referred to the Session of the General 
Court in May next, That the True Interest & Mearung of the Grant made 
of Land, to those, that were in the Narragansett war, was that the persons, 
who were in that war only should be entitled, and if alive, whosoever put 
in the Claim, and if deceased, then his Legal Eepresentatives were entitled 
to the Benefit Thereby in such way as was Consistent with the Conditions 
and Limitations of Settlement, &c., upon which said Lands were Granted, 
and which was never supposed a Deceased Claimer's Heir (in ordinary 
cases) could or would receive, where they were more than one, on the Con- 
ditions of the Grant. But where there were diverse descendants of a per- 
son, that had a right. They would agree and consent it should belong to 
one only. But whereas in some cases by reason of an Evil Mind, and Tur- 
bulent Disposition, and in others by reason of Minority there is a Great 
Difficulty. We propose that it be Resolved and Ordered, that where the 
person is deceased, who was in the service, the Grant shall be and Belong 
to his Legal Representatives,, in the Following manner viz: That the 
Eldest heir Male (if such there be, otherwise the Eldest Female) if tliey 
please, shall hold the land, paying to the other descendants, or heirs, such 
proportionable part of Ten pounds, (at which we judge a Right ought to be 
valued) as such descendants, or Iieirs would be Entitled to in the Lands, if 
such Lands descended according to the Law of this Province, for the settle- 
ment of Intestate Estates. And also to pay what Charge any of said de- 
scendants, may have been at to prove or bring forward such Claim. And 
if any dispute shall happen about the person and charge, the Settlers or 
Grantees in Each of the Towns shall fix and settle it by a major vote. The 
Committy is further of Opinion that the seven years for Settling the Town 
Granted to the NaiTagansett Claimers, as well the two first as The Two 
Last be Computed from y« first day of June next. 
In the name, and. by the Order of the Comm.ittee. 

THOMAS PALMER. 
Consented to. J. BELCHER. 



PUBLIC OFFICERS. 

Delegates to the Pro vinciai. Congress. — 1774, Solomon Lom- 
bard ; 177.5-6, Bryant Morton; 1777, Edmund Phinney; 1779, Solomon 
Lombard, to form State Constitution. 



228 APPENDIX. 

While belonging to Massachusetts the town had four Judges of the Court 
of Common Pleas, viz: — From 1776 to 1781, Solomon Lombard; from 
1784 to 1799, Josiah Thacher; from 1789 to 1804, William Gorham; from 
1798 to 1811, Stephen Longfellow. 

Judges of Probate. — William Gorham, from 1782 to 1805 — twenty- 
three years. Since Maine became a State, Josiah Pierce, 1846 to 1856 — 
ten years. 

Senators xjndek Massachusetts. — Josiah Thacher, Stephen Long- 
fellow, Lothrop Lewis, James Irish. 

Senators in Maine Legislature. — Josiah Pierce, three years — Pres- 
ident of the Senate 1835-6 ; Charles Himt, two years ; James Mann, two 
years. 

Hugh D. McLellan was Speaker of the House of Kepresentatives in 

1847-8. 

Executive Councilors. — Edmund Mann, of Gov. Dunlap's Council; 
Toppau Robie, of Gov. Kent's Council ; Dominicus Jordan, Governors 
Fairiield's and Kavenagh's Council ; Frederick Eobie, of Gov. Wash- 
burn's Council. 

Edward P. Weston, Superintendent of Common Schools, 1860-1-2. 

Daniel C. Emery was Sheriff of Cumberland County in 1856. 

Edmund Mann, and Jeremiah Parker, Coimty Commissioners. 

John A. Waterman, County Treasurer, 1857-8. 

James Mann, County Treasiu'er, 1862. 

Lothrop Lewis, James Irish, and Joseph Adams, were delegates to the 
Convention that formed the Constitution of Maine. 

Representatives to the General. Court under Massachu- 
setts. — 1765, Solomon Lombard ; 1766, voted not to send a Representa- 
tive ; 1767-68-69, Solomon Lombard ; 1770, voted not to send a Representa- 
tive; 1771, none; 1772, voted not to send a Representative, on account of 
the poverty of the town ; 1773, chose Wentwortli Stewart, on condition 
that he will serve without any expense to the town, which Mr. Stewart 
agreed to ; 1774, voted not to send a Representative ; 1775, Briant Morton ; 
1776, Caleb Chase ; 1777, Briant Morton, chosen in July, the town having at 
the May meeting voted not to send a Representative ; 1778-79, Edmund 
Phinney ; 1780, Solomon Lombard ; 1781, voted not to send a Representa- 
tive; 1782, Stephen Longfellow, Jr. ; 1783-84-85-86-87, Josiah Thacher; 
1788, Edmund Phinney ; 1789-90-91, Josiah Thacher ; 1792, Stephen Long- 
fellow and Josiah Thacher ; 1793-94, Stephen Longfellow ; 1795, Josiah 



APPENDIX. 229 

Tliacher; 1796, Stephen Longieliow; 1797, Josiah Thacher; 1798-99 and 
1800, Stephen Longfellow ; 1801-2, Loflirop Lewis ; 1803, Lothrop Lewis, 
chosen unanimously; 1804-5-6-7, Lothrop Lewis; 1808, Lothrop Lewis 
and David Harding, Jr. ; 1809, David Harding, Jr., and Dudley Folsom ; 
1810-11-12, Lothrop Lewis, David Harding, Jr., and Dudley Folsom; 
1813-14-15, James Codman, David Harding, Jr., and Toppan Eobie ; 1816, 
Samuel Stephenson, David Harding, Jr., and Toppan Eobie ; 1817-18, Da- 
vid Harding, Jr. ; 1819-20, Lotlirop Lewis, Toppan Eobie, and Joseph 
Adams. 

Eepresentativbs to the Maine Legislattjke. — 1820-21, James 
Irish, David Harding, Jr., and Toppan Eobie; 1822, Lothrop LeMis; 
1823-24, Seward Merrill; 1825, Samuel Stephenson; 1826-27-28, Clark 
Dyer ; 1829-30, Edmund Mann ; 1831, Joseph Hamblen, 3d ; 1832-33, Josiah 
Pierce; 1834-35, William E. Files; 1836-37, Charles Hunt; 1838-39, Caleb 
Hodsou ; 1840, Eobert Johnson, Jr. ; 1841, Eobert Motley ; 1842, Jeremiah 
Parker; 1843-44, Daniel C. Emery; 1845, Jeremiah Parker; 1846-47-48, 
Hugh D. McLellan ; 1849-50, James Mann ; 1851, Jonathan Hanson ; 1852, 
no election — winter sessions changed to summer ; 1853-54, Charles Paine ; 
1855-56, Jacob C. Baker; 1857-58, Joshua E.Hall; 1859-60, Frederick 
Robie ; 1861-62, James Phinney. 



VOTES IN GOEHAM FOR GOVERNOR IN MASSACHUSETTS. 

1780 — John Hancock, 55 ; James Bowdoin, 2. 

1781— John Hancock, 26. 

1782 — John Hancock, 15. 

1783_john Hancock, 33; Benjamin Lincoln, 20; James Bowdoin, 1. 

1784 — John Hancock, 44. 

1785 — Thomas Cushing, 53; Benjamin Lincoln, 1. 

1786— James Bowdom, 27 ; Thomas Cushing, 19. 

1787— John Hancock, 103 ; James Bowdoin, 6. 

1788— John Hancock, 94. 

1789— John Hancock, 116. 

1790— John Hancock, 90. 

1791— John Hancock, 98, 

1792— John Hancock, 81. 

1793— John Hancock, 87. 

1794— Samuel Adams, 92; Wm. Cushing, 3; Elbridge Gerry, 1. 

1795— Samuel Adams, 85; Elbridge Gerry, 4; Wm. Cushing, 1. 



230 APPENDIX, 

1796— Samuel Adams, 88 ; Elbridge Gerry, 6 ; Increase Sumner, 14. 

1797— Moses Gill, 48 ; Increase Sumner, 20 ; Elbridge Gerry, 1. 

1798 — Increase Sumuer, 81 ; Moses Gill, 1. 

1799 — Increase Siminer, 89; Moses Gill, 1. 

1800— Caleb Strong, 46; Moses Gill, 41 ; Elbridge Gerry, 41. 

1801— Caleb Strong, 102; Elbridge Gerry, 41. 

1802— Caleb Strong, 105 ; Elbridge Gerry, 27. 

1803— Caleb Strong, 137. 

1804— Caleb Strong, 162; James Sullivan, 63. 

1805 — Caleb Strong, 164 ; James Sullivan, 90. 

1806— Caleb Strong, 194; James Sullivan, 99. 

1807— Caleb Strong, 158; James Sullivan, 126. 

1808 — Christopher Gore, 257 ; James Sullivan, 58. 

1809— Christopher Gore, 230; Levi Lincoln, 90. 

1810— Christopher Gore, 244; Elbridge Gerry, 114. 

1811— Christopher Gore, 176; Elbridge Gerry, 99. 

1812— Caleb Strong, 284; Elbridge Gerry, 115. 

1813— Caleb Strong, 291 ; Joseph B. Varnum, 88. 

1814— Caleb Strong, 311 ; Samuel Dexter, 92. 

1815— Caleb Strong, 259 ; Samuel Dexter, 139. 

1816— John^Brooks, 257; Samuel Dexter, 112. 

1817— John Brooks, 203 ; Henry Dearborn, 79. 

1818 — John Brooks, 173; Benjamin Crowningshield, 99. 

1819^Johu Brooks, 191 ; B. W. Crowningshield, 116. 



I 



VOTES FOR GOVERNOR AFTER MAINE BECAME A STATE. 

1820— William Eang, 223 ; Scattering, 10. 

1821— Ezekiel Whitman, 138; Albion K. Paris, 92. 

1822— Ezekiel Whitman, 87 ; A. K. Paris, 71. 

1823— A. K. Paris, 108. 

1824— A. K. Paris, 129. 

1825— A. K. Paris, 137; Enoch Lincoln, 11. 

1826— Enoch Lmcoln, 275 ; Scattering. 1. 

1827— Enoch Lincoln, 135. 

1828— Enoch Lincoln, 357 ; Scattering, 16. 

1829— Samuel E. Smith, 218; Jonathan G. Hunton, 211. 

1830— Jonathan G. Hunton, 283 ; Samuel E. Smith, 269. 

1831— Samuel E. Smith, 256 ; Daniel Goodenow, 254. 

1832— Samuel E. Smith, 279; Daniel Goodenow, 272. 



J 



APPENDIX. 281 

1833— Robert P. Dunlap, 257 ; Daniel Goodeuow, 250. 

1834— Robert P. Dunlap, 298; Peleg Sprague, 281. 

1835— Robert P. Dimlap, 252 ; William King, 200. 

1836— Robert P. Dunlap, 256; Edward Kent, 201. 

1837— Edward Kent, 291 ; Gorham Parks, 268. 

1838— Edward Kent, 343 ; John Fairfield, 297. 

1839— Edward Kent, 308; John Fairfield, 308. 

1840— Edward Kent, 356 ; John Fairfield, 287. 

1841— Edward Kent, — ; John Fairfield, 285. 

1842— John Fairfield, 276 ; Edward Robinson, 240. 

1843 — Hugh J. Anderson, 238; Edw. Robinson, 129; Jas. Appleton, 31. 

1844— H. J. Anderson, 298 ; Edward Robinson, 272. 

1845 — H. J. Anderson, 214 ; Freeman H. Morse, 146 ; Sam'l Fessenden, 42. 

1846— John W. Dana, 225; David Bronson, 166; Sam'l Fessenden, 60. 

1847— John W. Dana, 167 ; David Bronson, 108 ; Sam'l Fessenden, 27. 

1848— -John W. Dana, 222 ; E. L. Hamlin, 164 ; Sam'l Fessenden, 124. 

1849— -John Hubbard, 228; E. L. Hamlin, 140; G. F, Talbot, 104. 

1850— .John Hubbard, 238; Wm. G. Crosby, 204; G. F. Talbot, 86. 

1851 — No election. 

1852— John Hubbard, 243; A. G. Chandler, 168; Wm. G. Crosby, 150. 

1853- Albert Pilsbury, 190; W. G. Crosby, 189 ; A.P.Morrill, 92; E. 
Holmes, 73. 

1854— A. P. Morrill, 268 ; A. K. Paris, 241 ; Isaac Reed, 47 ; S. Gary, 6. 

18.55— A, P. Morrill, 327 ; Samuel Wells, 329 ; Isaac Reed, 20. 

1856— Hannibal Hamlin, 415 ; Sam'l Wells, 291 ; G. F. Patten, 23. 

1857— Lot M. Morrill, 366; M. H. Smith, 246. 

1858— Lot M. Morrill, 383; M. H. Smith, 310. 

1859— Lot M. Morrill, 383 ; M. H. Smith, 255. 

1860 — Israel Washburn, Jr., 438 ; E. K. Smart, 315 ; Phinehas Barnes, 5. 

1861 — Israel Washburn, Jr., 381 ; John W. Dana, 187 : Charles D. Jame- 
son, 56. 



TOWN CLERKS. 

1764 to 1769, inclusive — Amos Whitney, six years. 
1770-71— Wentworth Stuart, two years. 
1772 — Amos Wliitney, one year. 
1773-74-75 — Wilham Gorham, thi'ee years. 
1776-77— Caleb Chase, two years. 
1778-1804 — Austen Alden, twenty-six years. 



232 APPENDIX. 

1804-1815 — Josiah Aldeii, eleven years. 
1815-1832 — William H. Foster, seventeen years. 
1833-34-35-36— William B. Harding, four years. 
1837-38— Eben Preble, two years. 
1839-40-41 — Kussell Linnell, three years. 
1842 — Charles C. Bangs, one year. 
1843-44 — Eben Preble, two years. 
1845 — Russell Linnell, one year. 
1846-47-48 — William B. Harding, three years. 
1849-50-51 — John Wingate, three years. 
1852-53 — William B. Harding, two years. 
1854 — James W. Davis, one year. 
1855-56-57 — Samuel F. Bacon, thi'ee years. 
1858-59-60— E. W. Nevins, three years. 
1861-62— M. G. Hayden, two years. 



SELECTMEN. 

1765 — Benjamin Skillings, Amos Whitney, Joseph Weston, 
" Benjamin Skillings, Amos "Whitney, Briant Morton. 
1766-67 — Benjamin Skillings, Amos Whitney, Edmund Phinney. 
1768 — Hugh McLellan, Edmund Phinney, Joseph Cates. 
1769 — Edmimd Phinney, Amos Whitney, James Gilkey. 
1770-71 — Edmund Phinney, James Gilkey, Barnabas Bangs. 
1772 — Solomon Lombard, Edmund Phinney, Nathan Whitney. 
1773 — Edmund Phinney, James Gilkey, Samuel Whitmore. 
1774 — Benjamin Skillings, Nathan Whitney, Prince Davis. 
1775 — Edmimd Phinney, Prince Davis, William McLeUan. 
1776 — William Gorham, Prince Davis, James Phinney. 
1777-78 — James Phinney, Andi-ew Crockett, Samuel Harding. 
1779 — James Phinney, James Gilkey, Andrew Crockett. 
1780 — James Gilkey, Andrew Crockett, William Cotton. 
1781 — Edmund Phinney, William Gorham, Stephen Longfellow, Jr. 
1782 — Edmund Phinney, Stephen Longfellow, Jr., William McLellan. 
1783 — James Phinney, Prince Davis, William McLellan. 
1784 — James Phinney, Stei^hen Longfellow, Jr., Austen AJden. 
1785 — Stephen LongfeUow, Jr., James Phinney, Cary McLellan. 
1786 — Stephen LongfeUow, Jr., James Phinney, Austen Alden. 
1787 — Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Austen Alden, Decker Phinney. 
1788— Austen Alden, Decker Phinney, Nathaniel Frost. 



APPENDIX. 233 

1789-90-91— Stephen Longfellow, Jr., Samuel Elder, James Phinney. 
1792-93 — Stephen Longfellow, Jr., James Phinney, Decker Phinney. 
1794-95 — Stei^hen Longfellow, Decker Phinney, Josiah Alden. 
1796-97-98-99 — Lothrop Lewis, Decker Phinney, Josiah Alden. 
1800 — Lothrop Lewis, Josiah Alden, Samuel Warren. 

J. Alden excused, and Samuel Prentiss elected. 
1801-2-3-4 — Lothrop Lewis, Samuel Warren, Decker Phinney. 
1805-6-7-8-9-10— Lothrop Lewis, Samuel Warren, Edmund Phinney, Jr. 
1811 — Lothrop Lewis, Edmund Pliinney, Jr., Thomas McLellan. 
1812-13-14 — Lothrop Lewis, Edmimd Phinney, Jr., David Harding, Jr. 
1815 — Toppan Robie, William McLellan, Samuel Warren. 
1816-17 — Lotlirop Lewis, William McLellan, Toppan Robie. 
1818— Toppan Robie, David Harding, Jr., Edmund Wescott. 
1819 — David Harding, Jr., Toppan Robie, Matthew Johnson. 
1820 — Lotlu'op Lewis, James Irish, William Cobb. 
1821 — Lothrop Lewis, William Cobb, Nathaniel Phinney. 
1822 — Lothrop Lewis, Nathaniel Phinney, Seward Merrill. 
1823 — Nathaniel Phinney, Toppan Robie, Simon Elder. 
1824— Seth Webb, Toppan Robie, Simon Elder. 
1825— Edmund Mann, David Harding, Jr., Simon Elder. 
1826— Edmund Mann, Seward Merrill, Seth Webb. 
1827 — Edmund Mann, Seward Merrill, Samuel Staples, Jr. 
1828— Edmund Maun, Seward Merrill, Levi Hall. 
1829 — Edmund Mann, Seward Men-ill, James Irish. 
1830 — Edmund Mann, Joseph Hamilton, 3d, Benjamin Skillings. 
1831— Edmund Mann, Clark Swett, Robert Johnson, 3d. 
1832— Seward Merrill, William Silla, Robert Johnson, 3d. 
1833— Sewai-d MerrUl, William Silla, Daniel C. Emery. 
1834— Edmund Mann, William Silla, Toppan Robie. 
1835 — Toppan Robie, Benjamin Skillings, Daniel C. Emery. 
1836— Daniel C. Emery, George Strout, Josiah L. Swett. 

George Strout resigned. 
1837 — Josiah Pierce, Joshua L. Swett, Benjamin Skillings. 
1838 — Josiah Pierce, Joshua L. Swett, WiUiam E. Files. 
1839 — Benjamin Skillings, Simon Elder, Charles O. Libby. 
1840 — Benjamin Skillings, Simon Elder, Charles O. Libby. 
1841 — Edward Scamman, John Sturgis, Charles O. Libby. 
1842 — Hugh D. McLellan, Simeon C. Clements, Joseph W. Parker. 
184.3— Hugh D. McLellan, Jacob H. Clements, Joseph W. Parker. 
1844 — Hugh D. McLellan, Jacob H. Clements, Joseph W. Parker. 
1845 — Jonathan Hanson, John Sturgis, Edward Scamman. 
1846 — John Wingatc, William Warren, Robert Johnson, 3d. 
1847 — John Wingate, William Warren, Daniel C. Emery. 

30 



234 APPENDIX. 

1848— Daniel C. Emery, Merrill Tliomas, Joseph M. Plmmner. 
1849 — Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Joseph M. Plummer. 
1850— Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Joseph M. Plummer. 
1851— Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Daniel Hall. 
1852 — Merrill Thomas, Charles Paine, Freeman Harding. 
1853 — Freeman Harding, William Merrill, Jr., Theophilus Dame. 
1854 — Edward Scamman, Daniel C. Libby, Joshua E. Hall. 
1855 — Edward Scamman, Freeman Harding, Joshua E. Hall. 
1856 — Edward Scamman, James Phinney, Jr., Joshua E. Hall. 
1857-58— James Phinney, Jr., Charles Moulton, Zebulon Whitney. 
1859— Marshall Irish, Merrill T. Files, William Burton. 
1860— Merrill T. Files, William Burton, Isaac E. McLellan. 
1861— Isaac E. McLellan, Samuel S. Waterhouse, Edwin Coburn. 
1862 — Edwin Coburn, Samuel S. Waterhouse, Moses Fogg. 



c. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

VITAL STATISTICS. 

If the length of years to which its citizens arrive, be a just criterion of 
the healthfulness of the town, it will, by that test, be found that Gorham is 
a place of great salubrity ; and that, in that respect, it will compare favor- 
ably with other towns in New England. The annual average of deaths for 
the last fifty years, has hardly exceeded one per cent, of the population. 
Many of our first settlers and revolutionary men attained a great age. 

Capt. John Phinney, the first settler, died in 1780, aged 87 years. 

His wife, Martha, also lived to be - - - 87 " 

Their son. Col. Ednnmd Phinney, died December, 1808, " 85 " 

John Phinney, Jr. died May 3, 1815, - - - " 83 " 

James Phinney died October 18, 1830, - - - " 94 " 

Martha Gorham Irish, (Phinney) died 1825, - - "89 " 

Elder N.Whitney died 1804, - - - - - " 95 " 

Susannah Cobb died 1804, - - - - - " 95 " 

Dennis Larry died 1807, - - - - - - " 90 " 

His wife. Patience Larry, died 1809, - - - " 94 " 



APPENDIX. 



235 



Mr.J. Hayues died 1811, aged 90 years. 

Mrs. Stone died 1812, " 90 " 

Elder J. Gates died 1813, - " 96 " 

Prince Davis died 1819, « 96 " 

Kerenliappuch Brackett died 1821, - - - - " 92 " 

Jedediah Lombard died 1820, - - - - " 92 " 

William Files died 1823, - - - - - - " 95 " 

Catherine Cloudman died March 24, 1832, - - "91 " 

Thomas Irish died August 14, 1832, - - - - " 94 years 8 mos. 

Uriah Nason died May 13, 1833, - - - - " 91 " 

Hannah Ross died October 19, 1833, - - - - " 98 " 

Jonathan Sturgis died May 11, 1834, - - - " 91 " 

Jedediah Cobb cUed August 2, 1833, - - - - " 91 " 

James Mosier died October 2, 1834, - - - - « 99 years 3 mos. 

John Watson died October 26, 1834, - - - - " 93 " 

David Harding died 1828, - - - - - " 97 " 

Deacon Eliphalet Watson died 1828, - - - - " 98 " 

Jane Snow died March 5, 1837, - - - - "102 " 

Abigail Nasou died March 5, 1837, - - - - " 98 " 

Col. Nathaniel Fi-ost cUed in May, 1838, - - - " 90 " 

Capt. Nathaniel Cobb, died Sept. 24, 1839, - - - " 90 " 

Betty Patrick died March 2, 1841, - - - - " 90 " 

Nathaniel Blake died February 28, 1843, - - - '" 91 " 

Thomas Clay died January 9, 1846, - - - - " 96 " 

Mary Frost died February 14, 1849, - - - - " 91 " 

Hannah Blake died February 24, 1849, - - - " 90 " 

Deborah Blake died February 18, 1850, - - - " 96 " 

Elkanah Harding died August 27, 1850, - - - " 91 " 

Capt. Joshua Swett died April 20, 1851, - - - " 90 " 

Deborah Williams died December 16, 1851, - - "93 " 

Sarah Harris died March 3, 1852, - - - - " 97 " 

Andi-ew Plaisted died November 27, 1855, - - "93 " 

Benjamin Chamberlain died December 25, 1855, - - " 94 " 

Ann Libby died December 28, 1855, - - - " 93 " 

Daniel Baker died June 10, 1856, - - - - " 90 " 

Nancy Swett tUed October 15, 1858, - - - " 92 " 

Widow Sturgis died September 9, 1859, - - - " 92 " 

James Phiuney died January 13, 1860, - - - " 93 " 

Polly Hamblen died March 7, 1860, - - - - " 93 " 

Anna Harding died February 14, 1861, - - - " 93 " 

Besides the foregoing, there died in Gorham since 1830, ninety other per- 
sons between the ages of 80 and 90 years. 



236 APPENDIX. 



THE PKESENT WAK. 

In the present sad and deplorable civil war, the men of Gorham have not 
been heedless to the call of their country. Company A of the 5th Regi- 
ment, and Company K of the 9th Eegiment of Maine Volunteers, were 
enlisted in this town, and were composed of Gorham men and others from 
towns in Maine. 

Company A, under Capt. Josiah Heald, marched from Gorham in June, 
and the Eegiment left Maine, June 20, 1861. Capt. Heald and Company 
were in the disastrous battle of Bull's Run, July 21, 1861. 

Capt. Colman Harding marched from Gorham with his Company, K, of 
the 9th Regiment, Sept. 18, 1861. Capt. Harding, on the organization of 
the Regiment, was elected Lieut. Col., and Lieut. Thomas E. Wentworth 
was promoted to a Captaincy. This Company went to South Carolina and 
assisted in the taking and occupying Hilton Head. 

For this present war Gorham has fm-nished the following commissioned 
officers : — 

Colman Habding, Lieut. Col. 
Frederic Robie, Major. 
Edward A. Scamman, Major. 
Josiah Heald, Capt. 
Thomas E. Wentworth, Capt. 
Henry R. Millett, " 

WiLLiAai Merrill, Lieut. 
John S. Merrill, " 
Chester B. Shaw, " 
Daniel M. Phillips, " 
Stephen M. Eaton, " 
Frederic Speed, Adjutant. 
Rev. John R. Adams, Chaplain of 5th Regiment. 
Rev. Joseph Colby, " 12th " 

Doct. Seth C. Gordon, Ass. Surgeon, 13th " 
and a large number of non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates. 



WILD MEN. 

About 1788, there was a general belief in Gorham, that certain strange 
men were wandering aljout this town, Scarborough and Westbrook. They 
were called " Wild men." Between the months of July and October, it is 



APPENDIX. 237 

asserted, there were seen iu the fields aud in the woods, human beings 
ragged, and having long shaggy hair and beards, picking berries, green 
corn and peas. Upon discovering any other person, they would run away. 
Sometimes they were seen going out of barns early in the morning. Cows 
were frequently found to have been milked during the night in yards. A 
Miss "Webb, rising very early one morning, said she saw one of the wild 
men going out of her father's yard, and one of the cows had been milked. 
Mr. Barnabas Bangs was looking for his oxen in a pasture where there were 
many trees and bushes, and he came suddenly upon one of these men sit- 
ting upon a log, eating a dead robin. Mr. Bangs asked him why he did not 
go to some house and cook his bird ? The fellow rose, and brandishing a 
large jack knife, replied, " I will let you know the reason." Mr. Bangs, 
being unarmed, speedily left the place. Two boys, Ebenezer Hall and 
Israel Hall, were one day picking blackberries, and saw two of these wild 
persons coming towards them ; the boys being frightened concealed them- 
selves in the bushes. The boys said one of them was a woman, and that 
they were white people. It was said that a man in the vicinity of Brag- 
don's Mills, near the line of Scarborough, being one day out in the woods 
with his gun, came upon one of these men, who was eating a young pigeon. 
The Scarborough man pointed his gun at him, and told him he would shoot 
him if he did not tell him who he was, and from whence he came. The 
strange man said he was one of twenty-five sailors, the crew of a large ves- 
sel that was cast away on the coast. No such shipwreck was known by our 
citizens to have happened. Two brothers, Abraham and Eli Webb, were 
one night driving a team with a load of boards from Saccarappa to Stroud- 
water, and they said they had a fan- view of five of the Wild men iu a field 
by the side of the road ; they were picking green peas. It is said that the 
last tune these wild men were seen was in Scarborough, near Gorham and 
Buxton lines, when a Mr. Libby is said to have counted fom'teen of them, 
in a grove of young pine trees. Not much importance is to be attached, I 
suppose, to the foregoing relation, yet there is no doubt that the people of 
Gorham and the adjacent towns, fully believed that such men were seen; 
that they were foreigners, mysterious persons. Some supposed them pirates, 
others, that they were a company of the Acadians, or neutral French, who 
had been expatriated from Nova Scotia. But who they were, where from, 
or what became of them, seems never to have been ascertained. 

This account was given me in writing, some years ago, by an aged and 
intelligent gentleman of Gorham, who was a boy of ten years of age when 
these strangers were said to have been seen. My informant fully believed 
in the truth of the story. 



238 APPENDIX. 

On page 59 mention has been made of the fall of a part of the frame of 
the meeting house, and the killing of Doct. Bowman and Mr. Tryon. The 
occmrence produced a profound sensation in this and neighboring towns, 
and was the occasion of bringing out several poetical eflusions, or " verses," 
as they were called. Thomas Shaw, of Standish, wrote a ballad. The fol- 
lowing lines were composed by Capt. Daniel Eldiidge of Gorham. It is 
a specimen of the rustic rhyming of that day. 



" They who in morning meet. 
All pleasant, fair and gay ; 
They may behold a dreacUiil scene 
Before the close of day. 



Unseen dangers hang around 
All in our prosperous way : 

May send our bodies to the tomb, 
Before the close of day. 



Great numbers went with one consent, 

To Gorham did repair. 
To rear a noble house to God, 

To preach and pray in there. 



And when the fi-ame was rais-ed high. 
Great joy then thd abound : 

A dreadful scene soon came to view, 
One half fell to the ground. 



How shall I paint the dreadful scene. 
My notes they are too low. 

For want of skill, and not of wUl, 
In Poetry to show. 

6 

What ! must my pen be silent then. 
Because I can't command ? 

No : I will trust, who am but dust, 
The Lord shall guide my hand. 



A brace gave way, that fatal day, 

The Jin also did fall : 
And men were hurl-ed in the air,- 

Not time on God to call. 



APPENDIX. 



8 



239 



To hear the women's mournful cry, 
Would melt a tender heart ; 

' My husband, son, or Mend is dead 
And in Eternity' 

9 

There two did meet an awful death. 
By the rubbish they were slain ; 

Willie wounded men were crying out, 
Distressed with grief and pain! 

10 

For Doctor Bowman they did cry. 
His help they did implore, 

But Bowman he had passed away, 
Not to be seen no more. 

11 

Now Doctor Bowman's loss we feel, 

His usefulness, no more ; 
No more kind offices he'll do, 

To help reUeve the poor. 

12 

As he showed mercy here below, 

Oh ! may he mercy find ; 
And may he join the angels' notes 

In shining worlds on high. 

13 

Young Tryon, in the bloom of life, 
Did bow his head and die — 

Oh may his soul forever dwell. 
With Christ, the Lord on high. 

14 

To hear Mrs. Tyron's mournful cry 
Would melt a tender heart — _ 

' My son is wounded, he must die, 
We must forever part.' " 



ERKATA. 

On page 7, 10th line from top, read " Micaceous" for Argillaceous. 
On page 33, 7th hne from bottom, read " 1834" instead of 1734. 
On page 69, 4th line from bottom, read " Gaudio" instead of Guadio. 
On page 97, 10th line from bottom, read " Lunenburg," instead of Lit- 
tleton. 



